Title

The Occurrence and Effect of a Protozoan Parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (Neogregarinida: Ophryocystidae) on Overwintering Monarch Butterflies, Danaus Plexippus (Lepidoptera: Danaidae) from Two California Winter Sites

Author Info

Kingston L. H. Leong, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoFollow
H. K. Kaya, University of California - Davis
Michael A. Yoshimura, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoFollow
Dennis F. Frey, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoFollow

Recommended Citation

Postprint version. Published in Ecological Entomology, Volume 17, Issue 4, November 1, 1992, pages 338-342.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.1992.tb01067.x.

Abstract

1. Monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, from two overwintering populations, were found to have Ophryocystis elektroscirrha spores on their scales at rates between 53% and 68%. The frequency of butterflies with O.elektroscirrhaspores remained about the same between sites and throughout the winter.

2. The spores, recovered from all parts of the body of the butterfly, were most numerous on the abdomen, particularly near the posterior third.

3. Butterflies with spores survived as long as those without detectable spores at 10.1°C ±0.4 SE and 78.3% r.h. ±0.6SE. Insects with spores held at 19.4°C ±0.4SE and 44.9% r.h. ±1.5SE showed a significantly higher rate of moisture loss and survived a shorter period than monarch butterflies without detectable spores.

Disciplines

Biology

Copyright

1992 The Royal Entomological Society.

Publisher statement

Published by Blackwell Publishing.