THE ARCTIINI (LEPIDOPTERA, EREBIDAE, ARCTIINAE) ATTRACTED BY Heliotropium sp. (HELIOTROPIACEAE) AT THE JOSÉ ÁLVAREZ ALONSO BIOLOGICAL STATION, IQUITOS, PERU

Ancajima G.P.; Neyra-Hidalgo D.A. · Folia Amazonica (2021) · DOI: 10.24841/fa.v30i1.535

Resumen

Tiger moths are attracted to pyrrolizidine-producing plants (eg. Heliotropiaceae), since they use these compounds in pheromones. The need for this compound makes the dried plants of some borage plants an efficient collection method. This study evaluated the richness of Arctiini with preference of Heliotropium sp. at the José Álvarez Alonso Biological Station during the months of January, February and March 2014. Twenty-one sampling points were established, 14 points in tropical forest and 7 in varillales. 16 Arctiini species were collected (39 specimens), distributed in the Arctiina, Ctenuchina and Euchromina subtribes. The white-sand forest showed a greater number of species in relation to the tropical forests. There is probably a preference for the leaves of Heliotropium sp. All the registered species are new records for the José Álvarez Alonso Biological Station, of which seven have been exclusively registered in the white-sand forest. Additionally, a basis for future work has been generated, since with certainty, these forests host a greater number of species and that could be recorded with greater sampling effort and other collection methods. The presented list of the Arctiini fauna could serve as a support for the conservation of these forests.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana