Volume 9 Number 2 22 March, 2021

The Taxonomic Report

OF THE INTERNATIONAL LEPIDOPTERA SURVEY

ISSN 2643-4776 (print) / ISSN 2643-4806 (online)

Pupal polymorphism of the Bog Copper butterfly

Lycaena (Epidemia) epixanthe (Bsd. & Le C. [1835])

(Lycaenidae: Lycaeninae) in New Jersey.

David M. Wright

124 Heartwood Drive

Lansdale, PA 19446

wripenn @ aol.com

ABSTRACT. The immature stages of the Bog Copper butterfly, Lycaena epixanthe, were described in

detail by the author nearly forty years ago. Two different pupal colors were interpreted to represent

distinct separate morphs with genetically-fixed incidences. Reassessment of the data discloses a pattern of

progressive color change of each individual pupa throughout the pupal period. This transforming strategy

is adaptive and may reduce predator recognition.

Key words: Bog Copper, cranberry bogs, pupal polymorphism

INTRODUCTION

The lycaenid Bog Copper butterfly, Lycaena (Epidemia) epixanthe (Boisduval & Le Conte [1835]) is

restricted to acid bogs in northeastern North America, extending from the Canadian Maritime Provinces

westward to Minnesota and Manitoba, and south to the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia and the

Coastal Plain of New Jersey. The butterfly in all stages is closely associated with its cranberry larval hosts

(Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. and V. oxycoccos L.). The morphology of the immature stages was

previously described by the author (Wright, 1983). In that study the author stated the great majority of

pupae were green with a few being blackish purple. These morphs were interpreted to represent two

distinct varieties with fixed incidences. By comparison, Newcomb (1911) characterized the pupal colors

of the Dorcas Copper, Lycaena (Epidemia) dorcas (W. Kirby, 1837), as “hardly any two are alike’. This

notion prompted a reassessment of the pupal polymorphism of L. epixanthe.

MATERIALS & METHOD

The colony of Lycaena epixanthe in Forge Pond bog (Fig. 1) has been under investigation since 1976. A

butterfly rearing study initiated in June, 1981, yielded 56 live larvae from overwintering ova. First instar

emergences ex ovum commenced on April 16" in 1982. After four molts, pupation began on May 27".

The pupal period averaged 13 days and ranged from 11 to 15 days. Adult eclosions occurred from June 7"

to 26". The color patterns of twenty pupae are documented in the author’s notebook and photo files.

Images were scanned into digital format for inclusion here.

1

Fig. 1. Forge Pond cranberry bog, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Large Cranberry in bloom in the foreground.

Fig. 2. Pupal color patterns of Bog Copper butterfly. 2a. Green speckled. 2b. Transitional. 2c. Blackish purple.

RESULTS

Lycaena epixanthe pupae as a group display a substantial diversity of color. Yet, significantly, the colors

of each individual pupa change as the pupal period progresses. Pupae are pale green at the start and finish

as solid black before eclosion. Some usual progressive changes include black speckling after two days

(Fig. 2a), partitioning of wing cases (cream or tan) and thorax (gray or black) after 5-6 days (Fig. 2b), and

generalized darkening (black or blackish purple) after 11-13 days (Fig. 2c). Variation in the intensity of

black maculations and streaking of veins on the wing cases are commonly observed. Occasionally, the

blackish purple phase may appear earlier in the pupal period (e.g., day 3-6). Rarely, a pupa is devoid of all

black speckling and streaking. The observed pupal patterns are cryptic within their natural habitat. When

hidden among the cranberry leaves and sphagnum moss, these pupae are virtually inconspicuous to the

human eye.

DISCUSSION

Pupal color plasticity generally occurs in species whose larvae have preferences for pupation sites which

vary in color (West & Hazel, 1996). The adaptive significance of this plasticity is crypsis (Hazel et al.,

1998). The sharing of traits among closely-related species may shed light on when they evolved within

the Lycaeninae (Coppers). To date, pupal plasticity is found chiefly in species of the subgenus Epidemia,

which customarily overwinter in the egg stage with larvae emerging in spring. Pupal periods are short.

Pupal polymorphism is reported in L. helloides by Coolidge (1911) and Scott (2008); in L. dorcas by

Newcomb (1911) and Scott (1986, 2008); in L. florus by Scott (2014); in L. nivalis by Newcomer (1911,

1963); and in L. epixanthe by Wright (1983). No data is available for L. mariposa. The most pronounced

assortment of color patterns occurs in wetland species like L. dorcas and L. epixanthe, which are confined

to alkaline fens and acid bogs. In these species, pupation and adult emergence take place concurrently

with the bloom period of their larval host plants (Potentilla fructicosa and Vaccinium macrocarpon). This

crucial period attracts numerous insects into the open habitat seeking nectar and prey. A broad variety of

pupal colors would reduce the likelihood that a predator would build a successful search pattern. The

bogs of the New Jersey Pine Barrens came into existence at the end of the Pleistocene around 10,000 to

11,000 years ago (Buell, 1970). Genomic studies reveal the Epidemia clade experienced a burst of

radiation around 5 Mya during the Pliocene (Zhang et al., 2019). Rapid diversification regularly correlates

with the sharing of beneficial genes among radiating species. Progressive pupal polymorphism is likely is

one of these shared qualities.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author wishes to express his deep gratitude to the late Annie Carter (Naturalist, Batsto Historical Site,

Wharton State Forest, Atlantic County, NJ), whose dedication to Pine Barrens preservation provided the

impetus for this study. I thank Philip Marucci and Nick Vorsa (Rutgers University Blueberry-Cranberry

Research Center, Jenkins, NJ) for insightful discussions on cranberry and peat bog biology.

LITERATURE CITED

Buell, M.F. 1970. Time of origin of the New Jersey Pine Barrens bogs. Bull.Torrey Bot.Club 97:105-108.

Coolidge, K.R. 1924. Life history of Heodes helloides Bdv. (Lepid.: Lycaenidae). Ent. News 35:306-312.

Hazel, W.N., Ante, S. & B. Stringfellow. 1998. The evolution of environmentally-cued pupal colour in

swallowtail butterflies: natural selection for pupation site and pupal colour. Ecol. Ent. 23:41-44.

Newcomer, E.J. 1911. The life histories of two lycaenid butterflies. Canad. Ent. 43:83-88.

i 1963. The synonymy, variability and biology of Lycaena nivalis. J. Res. Lepid. 2(4):271-280.

Newcomb, W.W. 1911. The life-history of Chrysophanus dorcas Kirby. Canad. Ent. 43(5):160-168.

Scott, J.A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. CA: Stanford, Stanford University Press. 583 pp.

2008. Hostplants & early stages of Lycaena florus. Papilio (New Series) #18, p. 41-43.

fees ie oie 2014. Lycaena florus (Lycaenidae): A blackish pupa. Papilio (New Series) #22, p. 62-63.

West, D.A. & W.N. Hazel. 1996. Natural pupation sites of three North American swallowtail butterflies:

Eurytides marcellus (Cramer), Papilio cresphontes Cramer, and P. troilus L. (Papilionidae). J. Lepid.

Soc. 50:297-302.

Wright, D.M. 1983. Life history and morphology of the immature stages of the Bog Copper butterfly

Lycaena epixanthe (Bsd. & Le C.) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). J. Res. Lepid. 22(1):47-100.

Zhang, J., Cong, Q., Shen, J., Opler, P.A. & N.V. Grishin. 2019. Genomics of a complete butterfly

continent. bioRxiv BIORXIV/2019/829887 Available online at: https://doi.org/10.1101/829887

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