ArticlePeerJ2026
Exploring the mysterious behavior of the critically endangered South African Wolkberg Zulu butterfly (
Article in PeerJ, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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5 authors.
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Abstract
Background: The Critically Endangered endemic Wolkberg Zulu butterfly (Lycaenidae: Methods: We used non-destructive micro-CT scanning and morphological analysis to uncover the potential abdominal and reproductive structures, including glands, that could explain the female's behavior. We illustrate the structures on Results: We found a sclerotized area mid-ventrally on the 7th sternite, a ventral pouch-shaped opening on the 9th segment, and tiny, spherical, superficially gland-like structures inside the 7th abdominal segment. The sclerotized area on the 7th sternite may be associated with the observed behavior, and the gland-like structures may have a pheromone-producing function, but our data do not allow unambiguous confirmation of either of these explanations. However, we confirm the presence of a waxy mating plug sealing the ostium bursae, the first confirmation of this structure in a lycaenid. It corresponds to a protosphragis, extending into the posterior part of the ductus bursae and onto the ventral part of the 9th sternite. The mating plug could offer an alternative explanation for why the female rubs her abdomen against grass blades: she may be trying to remove the mating plug mechanically to allow remating. The closely related
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