The Behavior and Adaptation of Butterfly Larvae

Hypolimnas bolina to varied levels of Temperature

Jeorgia Alonzo, Terence Buico, Adeleine Cabrera, Mark Igaya, Paula Javier, & Andrew Mabagos

INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY
Hypolimnas bolina provide a good model to
investigate ectotherms responses into various change
in temperature. Serves as an indicator of a healthy
ecosystem.

Climate change is inevitably happening in the

present time and humanity plays a part in severing
the catastrophic effects of this phenomena. Due to
the fluctuations of weather patterns animals are
affected especially the ectothermic species
Research materials used:
who rely dependently on their
• 21 butterfly larvae •Three 12x6 size terrariums
environment.
• 12V digital temperature controller • Mechanical weighing scale

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

WEIGHT LENGTH
Low Room High Low Room High
Temperature Temperature Temperature Temperature Temperature Temperature
Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
Mean Deviation Mean Deviation Mean Deviation Mean Deviation Mean Deviation Mean Deviation

1st day 3.01 g 1.06 2.77 g 1.86 2.54 g 1.76 1st day 2.35 cm 0.22 2.74 cm 0.43 2.81 cm 0.56

2nd day 3.5 g 1.01 3.48 g 1.84 3.49 g 1.84 2nd day 3.7 cm 0.43 3.47 cm 0.35 3.83 cm 0.35

3rd day 4.04 g 1.10 4.76 g 1.86 5.17 g 1.90 3rd day 4.14 cm 0.46 4.57 cm 0.37 5.34 cm 0.50
Table 1. Standard deviation and mean weight of all larvae in the Table 2. Standard deviation and average length of all larvae in the
same environment at a certain day same environment at nth day
Discussion

The butterfly larvae placed in low temperature habitat

were in a state of diapause. Larvae that were placed in
high thermal condition seem to thrive well with the habitat
thus increasing their food consumption and growth rate.
The irregular distribution of weather patterns in the
Philippines may alter the life cycle of the species that may
result to higher mortality rate of the butterfly larvae.
The experiment of Fischer, Dierks, Franke, Geister, &
Liszke on 2010 wherein they concluded that larva exposed
to a certain temperature, it will be able to do the process
of heat acclimation and adapt to this temperature but also
decreasing its resistance to the opposing temperature.
Some larvae tend to react or adapt faster but some,
although there was no fluctuation in their weight or size,
are slower to adapt and have a possibility of reacting
negatively to its environment. It can be further analyzed
that there are also negative effects to temperature changes
to the larvae. And thus, in congruent to Nice & Fordyce,
larvae have a limit to how well they can adapt to the
changes in the temperature brought by the climate change.
CONCLUSION
Hypolimnas bolina the most abundant species of
butterfly larvae in the Philippines exposed in low
temperature (23 degrees) gradually gained weight, while on
an extreme heat level (36 degrees ) resulted to an escalated
weight accumulation. Metabolic rate of the butterfly increases
in warmer surroundings resulting to increased body mass.
The results poses a significant relationship between
temperature and development because Hypolimnas 
bolina is considered as an ectothermic
species which temperature creates a huge
impact regarding the development of the
Hypolimnas bolina because of its
temperature dependence.
Acknowledgement:
This research has developed through the guidance of Josh Evans Bajao who assisted us through this
research and improving the paper. We also thank our professors, Justin Mesias and Kin Israel Notarte,
for supporting us on our research. Finally, we would also like to give our gratitude to our beloved
University of Santo Thomas for letting us conduct this experiment.