Mating interference of Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias erate poliographus Motschulsky) with Alpine Clouded Yellow (C. palaeno aias Fruhstorfer) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) in the Asama mountain range, Central Japan

Abstract

Following up on many eyewitness reports of Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias erate) in the Alpine Clouded Yellow (C. palaeno) habitat in the Asama mountain range as well as several reports of C. erate ♂ mating with C. palaeno ♀, distribution surveys and feeding and mating studies were conducted to clarify the presence and effect of C. erate in the C. palaeno habitat. The results confirmed mating interference of adult C. erate ♂ with C. palaeno in C. palaeno habitats of Mt. Yunomaru and Mt. Eboshi but that geneticintrogression was unlikely. Measures for the conservation of C. palaeno were discussed.