Differences Of Flight Behavior Patterns Between Male And Female P.imperator And External Factors Affecting Flight Of Monarchs

With the development of butterfly research,in recent years,the research of butterflies in China has gradually shifted from species classification,classification status,distribution area and morphology to habits,behavior characteristics and influencing factors.As one of the regions rich in butterfly resources,Qinghai is located in the northwest inland of China,it has a highland continental climate,it has the characteristics of long sunshine duration,strong radiation,low temperature,large daily temperature range,small annual temperature range,little precipitation and large regional differences.The study area is located in Xishan,a suburb of Xining city in eastern Qinghai Province,(E 101°43'12 ",N 36°37'25",altitude 2506?2570 m),it's a semi-plantation.P.imperator overwinter on eggs,larvae hatch around March to April,feed on Corydalis adunca Maxim.Pupation occurs from May to June,and adults appear from late June to early September.The nectar plant is Corydalis adunca Maxim,Hedysarum multijugum,Allium cyaneum Regel,Adult P.imperator butterfly activity peaks from mid-July to mid-August.There are many differences between male and female P.imperators in their behaviors,such as flying behavior,flower visiting behavior,resting on the ground,and forest edge avoidance behavior,etc.Flying is the most basic behavior of P.imperators,which is obviously affected by external factors(temperature,light intensity,humidity,wind speed).Therefore,from the end of June to the beginning of September every year,in the place where the adults of P.imperators are concentrated(the southern slope of The Western Mountain),the differences of the flight behavior patterns of P.imperators and the external factors that affect the flight characteristics of P.imperators are studied,and the effects of artificial greening on the distribution of P.imperators are also discussed.Results are as follows:1.Differences in behavior patterns between male and female P.imperatorvThe activity rhythm of female and male P.imperatorv silk butterflies(female P.imperatorv silk showed double peak pattern,male P.imperatorv silk showed three peak pattern),Time length of flights(p < 0.05),Time length of visits(p < 0.05),Time length of rest times(p < 0.05)and flight altitude(p < 0.05),Flight distance(p < 0.05)and diffusion distance(p < 0.05)all are differences.There was no significant difference in the number of sticking to the ground(p = 0.103)and the number of edge avoidance(p = 0.085).The male P.imperator showed obvious territorial behavior and patrol behavior,while the female P.imperator was relatively hidden.2.The influence of external factors on the flight behavior of P.imperatorv(1)There was a significant positive correlation between ambient temperature and P.imperator Oberthür butterflies flying(p < 0.01),Monarchs were not observed flying when the temperature was below 16.8 ? or above 36 ?.(2)There was a significant positive correlation between light intensity and P.imperator Oberthür butterflies flying(p < 0.01),no P.imperator Oberthür flight was observed below276.2 w/m2 or above 1357.1 W /m2.The most obvious effect of light intensity on P.imperator Oberthür flight is: when the sun is covered by clouds,P.imperator Oberthür flight slows down and finally sticks to the ground with wings spread 180°;When the sun broke through the clouds,the monarchs began to fly.(3)There was a significant negative correlation between air humidity and P.imperator Oberthür butterflies flying(p < 0.01),when the humidity is higher than 59.6%,no monarch silk butterfly flies,no monarch silk butterfly flies or even dies.After rain,P.imperator did not fly despite high temperature and light intensity,if it rained for 3 consecutive days,P.imperator flights decreased sharply.(4)There was no significant correlation between wind speed and P.imperator butterflies flying(p = 0.191),but there are some effects,When the wind speed is greater than 5.1m /s,P.imperator butterflies do not fly,but fall on vegetation or ground,wings flat,close to vegetation or ground,reduce resistance.When winds get too strong,monarchs can be blown off the ground.(5)Through multiple regression analysis,the significant influence of external factors on P.imperator butterfly flight was temperature,humidity,light and wind speed.When the temperature is high,the humidity is low,the light intensity is strong,and there is no wind or breeze,the P.imperator flies the most;When the temperature is high,the humidity is low,the light intensity is weak and there is no wind,the number of P.imperatorv butterflies flies more;When the temperature is low,humidity is high,light intensity is weak,there is no wind or there is wind,P.imperatorv silk butterfly flies the least number or does not fly.3.Effects of afforestation on the distribution of P.imperatorvBefore 2006,P.imperators were also active in the adjacent area to the east of the western Mountain P.imperators 'active area,In 2006,the area was artificially afforested with caragana korshinskii,Qinghai Spruce and apricot(1 tree per square meter),but the following year,there were no adult P.imperator butterflies flying.We compared the vegetation difference between this area and the active area of P.imperator butterfly,and found that the canopy closure,average height of trees,DBH of trees,density of trees,shrub coverage,average height of shrubs,and cover of ground vegetation in the inactive area were significantly higher than those in the active area(p < 0.01).Shrub density was different but not significant(p = 0.160).This indicates that the butterflies prefer to live in the environment with no tree distribution,shrub coverage and average height,and low vegetation coverage.Nectar source plants were distributed in both active and inactive areas,but there was no P.imperator butterfly activity in inactive areas.It may be related to host plant,edge avoidance behavior,light intensity and human disturbance.The most important thing is that artificial greening will change the native environment,which will lead to the decrease of P.imperator silk butterfly population,or even regional extinction.