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<p>A nymphalid butterfly, <i>Polygonia c-aureum</i> L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), has distinct seasonal diphenism, known as the summer form and the autumn form, which differ in wing morphology, color, behavior, and physiology. The summer form is non-diapause and begins reproduction shortly after emergence, whereas the autumn form induces adult diapause and reproduces in the spring after overwintering. However, autumn forms have been observed mating before overwintering in the wild, and it is unclear what causes this pre-overwinter mating. In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between seasonal form and mating by investigating the effects of photoperiod, age, seasonal form, and sex on courtship and mating behaviors during the adult stage. Summer form males courted females regardless of adult photoperiod (long or short days) or the female's seasonal form, but they rarely mated with autumn form females. Autumn form males courted females, both seasonal forms, under long-day conditions. Under short-day conditions, they rarely courted or mated with either autumn or summer form females. However, a small number (5.1%) of autumn form males showed courtship behavior toward autumn form females 30&#xa0;days after emergence under short photoperiods. These results suggest that autumn forms may occasionally mate before overwintering. In addition, we also examined the effects of hormones on mating behavior because hormones are known to promote sexual maturation in several insects. Treatment with either the JH analog methoprene or 20-hydroxyecdysone had no detectable effect on mating behavior in this butterfly.</p>

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Seasonal form and Mating Behavior in the Asian Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-aureum): Influence of Adult Diapause

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月20日

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  • Satoshi Hiroyoshi,
  • Takayuki Mitsunaga,
  • Gadi V. P. Reddy

摘要

A nymphalid butterfly, Polygonia c-aureum L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), has distinct seasonal diphenism, known as the summer form and the autumn form, which differ in wing morphology, color, behavior, and physiology. The summer form is non-diapause and begins reproduction shortly after emergence, whereas the autumn form induces adult diapause and reproduces in the spring after overwintering. However, autumn forms have been observed mating before overwintering in the wild, and it is unclear what causes this pre-overwinter mating. In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between seasonal form and mating by investigating the effects of photoperiod, age, seasonal form, and sex on courtship and mating behaviors during the adult stage. Summer form males courted females regardless of adult photoperiod (long or short days) or the female's seasonal form, but they rarely mated with autumn form females. Autumn form males courted females, both seasonal forms, under long-day conditions. Under short-day conditions, they rarely courted or mated with either autumn or summer form females. However, a small number (5.1%) of autumn form males showed courtship behavior toward autumn form females 30 days after emergence under short photoperiods. These results suggest that autumn forms may occasionally mate before overwintering. In addition, we also examined the effects of hormones on mating behavior because hormones are known to promote sexual maturation in several insects. Treatment with either the JH analog methoprene or 20-hydroxyecdysone had no detectable effect on mating behavior in this butterfly.