Distribution of Virachola livia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Eggs and Influence of Conspecific Aggregation and Avoida nce Behavior

Abstract

The oviposition behaviour and distribution of the e ggs of carpophagous Virachola livia Klug (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) was studied on pomeg ranate for six years. Taylor’s power law and Iwao’s mean patchiness regression, an d common k proved the aggregated distribution of the eggs on pomegranate fruits. The butterflies tend to oviposit one egg per fruit, indicating the existence of conspecific egg avoidance behaviour. The study showed that the selection of oviposition sites was affecte d by the part of the fruit body and the cardinal direction of the tree canopy. Results sugg est that the oviposition behavior of V. livia and, consequently, the distribution of the eggs ma y be regulated by the conspecific aggregation and conspecific egg avoidance. It is ap parent that the butterfly integrates these two behaviors to maximize the success of its reproduction. Keywords: Conspecific egg avoidance, Pomegranate, Oviposition site, Oman.