Body size of four species of butterflies of the genus Heliconius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) produced in Costa Rica Caribbean butterfly farms

Body size of four species of butterflies of the genus Heliconius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) produced in Costa Rica Caribbean butterfly farms

Authors

  • Olivier Castro Morales Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Campus Tecnológico local San Carlos, Escuela de Agronomía, 223-21001 Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3817-9459
  • Arnoldo Gadea Rivas Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Campus Tecnológico local San Carlos, Escuela de Agronomía, 223-21001 Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4063-9856
  • Mónica Madrigal Valverde Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Campus Tecnológico local San Carlos, Escuela de Agronomía, 223-21001 Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4688-0627

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v11i3.2699

Keywords:

Lepidoptera, biometrics, Heliconius, butterfly farms, breeding of butterflies

Abstract

Introduction: The production of butterflies is an important socioeconomic activity and has become an option to generate income for rural microenterprises. Objective: To see how farming affects the body size of  Heliconius butteflies in Costa Rican farms. Methods: We measured adults and pupae of Heliconius cydno, H. erato, H. hecale and H. melpomene in 10 butterfly farms, in the Huetar Atlantic Region of Costa Rica. Results: In some farms, adult Heliconius erato and H. hecale are heavier (p≤ 0.05), and have a longer abdomen and larger forewings. The weight did not differ among farms, and the sex ratio is close to 0,5. Conclusion: All farms sampled produce butterflies of fit for commercialization.

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Published

2019-12-01

How to Cite

Castro Morales, O., Gadea Rivas, A., & Madrigal Valverde, M. (2019). Body size of four species of butterflies of the genus Heliconius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) produced in Costa Rica Caribbean butterfly farms. UNED Research Journal, 11(3), 378–387. https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v11i3.2699

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2019)

Section

Articles

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