2017 Volume 68 Issue 1 Pages 1-7
The pupal weight of the swallowtail butterfly (Papilio xuthus Linnaeus) was measured, to determine if there were distinguishable differences between non-hibernant, hibernant or parasitized pupae. Measurements were made of 80 pupae, including 18 hibernant, 29 non-hibernant, 24 parasitized and 9 diseased pupae. In the former 3 types of pupae, the weight decreased linearly with time after pupation, but at different rates (parasitized pupae > hibernant pupae >> non-hibernant pupae) . At eclosion, the pupal weight had decreased to about 90% of the initial value for the non-hibernant pupae, and about 85% for the hibernant pupae. The results indicate that the weight loss was quicker for the parasitized and non-hibernant pupae compared to the hibernant pupae, while the amount of weight loss at emergence was larger for the hibernant pupae than for the non-hibernant pupae.
