Studies on Ecology and Behavior of Japanese Black Swallowtail Butterflies(Lepidoptera : Papilionidae) : V. Fecundity in Summer Generations

Abstract

In order to assess the fecundity and the fertility (oviposition rate) of the black swallowtail butterflies (BSB), Papilio helenus and P. protenor, the number of eggs in the ovaries of field-collected females was examined by dissection. Eggs were classified into three categories according to the degree of their maturation. Estimated fecundities (number of eggs in ovaries for the youngest age class) were 530 in P. helenus and 410 in P. protenor. Oviposition of the BSB took place from afternoon to evening. Young females were found to deposit 80 and 35 eggs a day and old females 60 and 25 eggs in P. helenus and P. protenor, respectively. Thus, P. helenus likely has a greater fecundity than P. protenor.