Danainae

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Danainae
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Subordination : Glossata
Family : Noble butterfly (Nymphalidae)
Subfamily : Danainae
Scientific name
Danainae
Boisduval , 1833
young monarch butterfly caterpillar ; one can see the fleshy appendages in front and at the end of the abdomen
Greta Morgane (Ithomiini)

The Danainae are a subfamily of butterflies from the noble butterfly family (Nymphalidae). Worldwide the Danainae count about 450 species in three tribes . Some authors see these three tribes (Danaini, Tellervini and Ithomiini) as subfamilies within the Nymphalidae.

description

The moths are the only butterflies that suck the sap and nectar of dog poison plants (Apocynaceae), especially silk plants (Asclepiadoideae) in order to ingest pyrrolizidine alkaloids . They use these poisons for defense against predators or to produce sexual attractants.

The caterpillars are bare and have fleshy, feeler-shaped appendages. As they feed on poisonous plants, they are also well protected from predators.

Danaini

162 species of this tribe are known to date, which occur in the tropics , mainly from India to Australia . However, some species also fly into the temperate latitudes. The males have tufts of hair that can be turned out between the eighth and ninth abdominal segments. The front legs of the females are receded club-shaped. The antennae are bare. The moths are strongly attracted by flowers, especially by plants of the genus Ageratum , where they suck alkaloids. The caterpillars feed on dog poison plants (Apocynaceae), silk plants (Asclepiadoideae) and mulberry plants (Moraceae), which have a milky sap.

Plate servini

Of the Tellervini, only six species of the Tellervo genus are known to date , all of which are found in New Guinea , northern Australia and the Solomon Islands . The adults cannot be separated from the other tribes by clear characteristics. They have no hairbrushes on the Costa or on their abdomen. The caterpillars have only a pair of fleshy appendages on the metathorax . They feed on plants of the genus Parsonsia from the dog venom family.

Ithomiini

The Ithomiini are the largest group of the Danainae with around 300 species. They occur exclusively in the Neotropic . Numerous species imitate species of the same tribe, but also other butterflies ( mimicry ). Many species have translucent or completely transparent wing areas. The males have characteristic tufts of hair on the front of the hind wings on the Costa. Their antennae are scaly.

Only a few caterpillars have the fleshy appendages. Most feed on nightshade family (Solanaceae), which 90% of the forage plants account, Gesneriengewächsen (Gesneriaceae) and dog poison plants (Apocynaceae). This makes most of the moths inedible for predators, but some develop no toxins despite the poisonous food. Rather, the adults suckle on poisonous plants, especially on predatory leaf family (Boraginaceae) and sunflower plants (Asteraceae) in order to maintain their protection.

Systematics

There are only two types in Europe :

All other species occur in America, Africa, Asia or Australia:

swell

Individual evidence

  1. a b c d e f g N. P. Kristensen: Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies, 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbuch der Zoologie 4 (35) p. 292f, Walter de Gruyter. Berlin, New York 2003, ISBN 3-11-015704-7
  2. a b Ithomiini. Tree of Life Web Project, accessed February 23, 2007 .
  3. Boyce A. Drummond III and Keith S. Brown, Jr .: Ithomiinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): Summary of Known Larval Food Plants . In: Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden , Vol. 74, No. 2. (1987), pp. 341-358. doi : 10.2307 / 2399405
  4. Danainae. Fauna Europaea, accessed February 23, 2007 .

Web links

Commons : Danainae  - collection of images, videos and audio files