Host plant selection and larval performance of the endangered Mitchell’s satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii) on two Carex species
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Authors
Bennett, Maci L.
Issue Date
2022-01-01
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
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Abstract
Mitchell’s satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii) is a federally endangered butterfly extant to Michigan and Indiana and is known to use Carex sedge species as host plants. In Fish & Wildlife’s Mitchell’s satyr butterfly (hereafter MSB) recovery plan, propagation programs are a critical component for the survival of this species. Understanding host plant suitability is the crux of such programs. Carex stricta is the traditional host plant used for rearing despite the existence of many Carex species in MSB’s natural fen habitat. There is only one other quantitative study examining MSB larval feeding preference. My study attempted to expand on this knowledge by examining 1st instar larvae host plant preference, development, and survivorship. Additionally, plant tissue samples were sent to a lab where carbon and nitrogen content of host plant tissues was determined. In the choice test between two sedge species, Carex stricta and Carex atlantica, I found that Mitchell’s satyr 1st instar larvae do not have a sedge preference. However, larvae feeding on C. stricta developed significantly faster than did those larvae feeding on C. atlantica. Survivorship within my study was 60% and was consistent with rates obtained from the larger population being reared in the same room. C. stricta was found to have a higher carbon content, while C. atlantica had a higher nitrogen content. These results acted as a reference for potential host plant preference and nutrition but were not an analytical focus. My study suggests the traditional use of C. stricta by propagation programs is beneficial for larvae development, though this study warrants repetition owing to its small sample sizes. However, by knowing which host plants are more suitable for rearing, propagation programs increase their success and therefore, contribute to the recovery of this endangered species.
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Publisher
Kalamazoo College
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