Difference between revisions of "Chilades pandava"
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University of Guam scientists are planning tests of injectable insecticides such as Abacide2®* for longterm protection of cycads. | University of Guam scientists are planning tests of injectable insecticides such as Abacide2®* for longterm protection of cycads. | ||
| − | Effective natural control of ''Chilades pandava'' by predators or parasites has not been observed on Guam. An egg parasite has been found, but the proportion of eggs parasitized is very low (Moore 2006). Protection of larvae by attendant ants may hinder establishment of effective biological control for this invasive species | + | Effective natural control of ''Chilades pandava'' by predators or parasites has not been observed on Guam. An egg parasite, ''Trichogrammatoidea guamensis'', has been found, but the proportion of eggs parasitized is very low (Moore 2006). Protection of larvae by attendant ants may hinder establishment of effective biological control for this invasive species |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 18:06, 30 January 2008
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University of Guam Cooperative Extension Service Agriculture and Natural Resources Section |
Pest Fact Sheet Series |
Prepared by Aubrey Moore, Entomologist, University of Guam
Common Name(s)
cycad blue butterfly, plains cupid
Taxonomy
- Order: Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)
- Family: Lycaenidae (coppers, hairstreaks, blues)
- Species: Chilades pandava (Horsfield)
- Family: Lycaenidae (coppers, hairstreaks, blues)
Synonyms
- Edales pandava (Horsfield)
Host(s)
- Cycas revoluta (sago palm)
- Cycas micronesica (fadang)
Biology
Caterpillars of the cycad blue butterfly, Chilades pandava, were first detected on Guam in 2005 feeding on two species of cycad: fadang, Cycas micronesica and sago palm, C. revoluta (A. Moore 2005). Previously, they were found on Saipan in 1996 feeding on C. revoluta (Schreiner & Nafus 1997). They were found on Rota in 2006 (Badilles 2006) and on Tinian in 2006 (Marler 2007). The native range of this species is Sri Lanka to Thailand and eastern Indonesia. It was first recorded on the island of Mauritius in 2000 and caused the death of many cycad plants there (MacDonald et. al 2003).
Eggs, which are pale green in color, are laid singly on newly emerging fronds before the leaves open. They are very small, but can be easily seen with the aid of a hand lens. Early instar larvae are purple and later instar larvae are green. The caterpillars feed only on new foliage before it hardens.
High populations of cycad blue butterfly caterpillars result in complete defoliation of new foliage. Repeated defoliation may lead to plant mortality. Cycads on Guam are currently very susceptible to mortality because many have lost most or all of their leaves due to a severe infestation of the cycad Aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui. Loss of cycads from scale infestation has resulted in Guam's endemic, Cycas micronesica, being added to the Red List of Threatened Species maintained by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) (Marler et al. 2006).
Late instar larvae of Chilades pandava are often attended by ants belonging to several species. Ant associations are common within the family Lycaenidae (Australian Museum Online 2006). Ants protect larvae from parasites and predators in return for a sugary liquid exuded from special glands on the caterpillars' backs. Several species of ants have been observed to attend Chilades pandava on Guam and Saipan.
Control Recommendations
Defoliation caused by cycad blue butterfly larvae may be prevented by weekly applications of microbial insecticides containing Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki such as Dipel®*. These insecticides only kill feeding caterpillars and do not harm other organisms.
University of Guam scientists are planning tests of injectable insecticides such as Abacide2®* for longterm protection of cycads.
Effective natural control of Chilades pandava by predators or parasites has not been observed on Guam. An egg parasite, Trichogrammatoidea guamensis, has been found, but the proportion of eggs parasitized is very low (Moore 2006). Protection of larvae by attendant ants may hinder establishment of effective biological control for this invasive species
References
Australian Museum Online 2006.
http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/lycaenid.htm
Badilles, A. 2006. Personal communication.
CABI Crop Protection Compendium Online login
http://www.cabicompendium.org/cpc/datasheet.asp?CCODE=CHLAPA
Macdonald, I.A.W., J.K. Reaser, C. Bright, L.E. Neville, G.W. Howard, S.J. Murphy & G. Preston (eds.) 2003. Invasive alien species in southern Africa: national reports & directory of resources. Global Invasive Species Programme, Cape Town, South Africa.
http://www.gisp.org/downloadpubs/SOUTHERN.PDF
Marler, T. 2007. Unpublished observations.
Marler, T., Haynes, J. & Lindstrom, A. 2006. Cycas micronesica. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.iucnredlist.org Downloaded on 26 May 2006.
Moore, A. 2005. Unpublished observations.
Moore, A. 2006. Unpublished observations.
Schreiner, I.H. & D.M. Nafus 1997. Butterflies of Micronesia. University of Guam Press.
http://www.micronesianinsects.com/PUB/ButterfliesOfMicronesia.pdf
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The programs of the University of Guam Cooperative Extension Service are open to all regardless of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability. |
