AnAge entry for Bicyclus anynana

Classification (HAGRID: 00021)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Arthropoda (Taxon entry)
        Class: Insecta (Taxon entry)
            Order: Lepidoptera
                Family: Nymphalidae
                    Genus: Bicyclus
Species: Bicyclus anynana
Common name: Squinting bush brown

Maximum longevity: 0.5 years (wild)
Source: ref. 811
Sample size: Medium
Data quality: Acceptable
Observations: In the wild, this African butterfly exhibits seasonal polyphenism as a result of alternating dry and wet seasons. During the dry season they remain mostly inactive [0809]. In the lab, these organisms may live around 0.3 years and reproduce when about 2 weeks of age [0418]. In the wild, one study in Uganda found that males can live up to 0.5 years [0811], but possibly they can live longer in other locations.

No information on metabolism is available.

[0809] Pijpe et al. (2008), Increased life span in a polyphenic butterfly artificially selected for starvation resistance (PubMed)
[0811] Molleman et al. (2007), Extraordinary long life spans in fruit-feeding butterflies can provide window on evolution of life span and aging (PubMed)
[0418] Pijpe et al. (2006), Consequences of artificial selection on pre-adult development for adult lifespan under benign conditions in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana (PubMed)