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<p>Interactions between insects and plants shape ecological and evolutionary dynamics, yet floral herbivory remains underdocumented for many taxa. Butterflies of the genus <i>Battus</i> have a specialized association with <i>Aristolochia</i>, with larval feeding historically reported only on vegetative tissues. Here, we present the first confirmed record of floral herbivory by larvae of <i>Battus polydamas</i> on <i>Aristolochia gigantea</i>. Observations were conducted on a single cultivated plant in the Evolutionary Garden of the University of Brasília. We quantified floral damage and documented larval behavior through photographs and videos. Of the 42 floral structures examined, 46.43% of open flowers and 35.71% of floral buds exhibited signs of herbivory, including laminar tissue removal, margin erosion, perforations, and partial destruction of the floral tube. Larvae of multiple instars were found feeding on both external and internal floral regions. These observations expand current knowledge of the feeding behavior of <i>B. polydamas</i> by documenting the use of floral tissues of <i>A. gigantea.</i> They also suggest potential ecological consequences of florivory for <i>A. gigantea</i>, emphasizing the need for broader investigations into the conditions and frequency of this interaction.</p>

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First record of Battus polydamas (Papilionidae) caterpillars feeding on Aristolochia gigantea flowers

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月29日

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  • Sofia Coradini Schirmer,
  • Jefferson Brendon Almeida dos Reis

摘要

Interactions between insects and plants shape ecological and evolutionary dynamics, yet floral herbivory remains underdocumented for many taxa. Butterflies of the genus Battus have a specialized association with Aristolochia, with larval feeding historically reported only on vegetative tissues. Here, we present the first confirmed record of floral herbivory by larvae of Battus polydamas on Aristolochia gigantea. Observations were conducted on a single cultivated plant in the Evolutionary Garden of the University of Brasília. We quantified floral damage and documented larval behavior through photographs and videos. Of the 42 floral structures examined, 46.43% of open flowers and 35.71% of floral buds exhibited signs of herbivory, including laminar tissue removal, margin erosion, perforations, and partial destruction of the floral tube. Larvae of multiple instars were found feeding on both external and internal floral regions. These observations expand current knowledge of the feeding behavior of B. polydamas by documenting the use of floral tissues of A. gigantea. They also suggest potential ecological consequences of florivory for A. gigantea, emphasizing the need for broader investigations into the conditions and frequency of this interaction.