| Table 8. Cross-community analogs: Heliconiini vs. flea beetle species sharing host plants and habitats |
| Host plant species |
HCN
amt. |
Habitat |
Heliconiini species |
Flea Beetle species |
| all species† |
Var |
Forest; edge |
H. cydno† |
Monomacra violacea adults |
| P. lobata (hooked trichome defense) |
Low |
Forest gaps; edge |
H. charithonia |
Red Ptocadica
M. violacea adults and larvae |
| P. auriculata |
Var |
Second growth;
edge |
H. sara (sequesters epivolkenin and taraktophyllin; makes sarauriculatin)
H. erato? (in greenhouse) |
Parchicola DF2
Ptocadica bifasciata |
| P. biflora |
Var |
Second growth;
Edge |
H. erato
H. hecalesia?
Dryas iulia |
Parchicola DF2
Ptocadica bifasciata
M. chontalensis
D. quinquelineata
|
P. costaricensis
rare at La Selva |
High |
Second growth |
Josia frigida (rare Dioptinae moth)
H. erato (rarely used) |
rarely used (except M. violacea on flowers) |
| P. arbelaezii |
High |
Edge |
Dryas iulia (second growth) |
none |
| P. megacoriacea |
Slow
release |
Edge; second growth |
H. erato (this host rarely used at La Selva) |
none |
P. vitifolia
|
Low |
Forest; edge
|
H. hecale
|
Black-tibia Parchicola
Yellow Ptocadica
|
P. quadrangularis?
rare at La Selva |
Med |
Edge?, widely cultivated |
H. ismenius? |
Black-tibia Parchicola? |
P. ambigua
|
Var |
Forest; edge
|
H. doris (unknown; probably sequesters)
|
Black-tibia Parchicola Yellow Ptocadica
|
| P. oerstedii |
Low |
Second growth; edge |
Heliconius melpomene (sequesters gynocardin) |
Yellow-tibia Parchicola
Yellow Ptocadica
|
| P. menispermifolia |
High |
Second growth; edge |
H. melpomene (this host rarely used at La Selva) |
none |
| P. pittieri |
High |
Forest |
H. sapho (probably sequesters epivolkenin and taraktophyllin) |
Red Pedilia
|
| †H. cydno cannot survive on P. lobata |