Caterpillar seasonality in a central Brazilian cerrado

Research reveals that caterpillar abundance in the Cerrado Protected Areas of Brazil peaks during the dry season, particularly from April to July. This pattern is likely due to reduced stress from predators and parasitoids during the early dry months, while low larval density at the onset of the rainy season may result from accumulated water stress, chemical defenses in new leaves, delayed adult emergence, or increased predation. The study, conducted between 1991 and 1995 in central Brazil, examined nine host plant species across 10,800 censuses, identifying larvae in 15% of cases and documenting 247 lepidopteran species. Multivoltine life cycles, with varying pupal duration, were also observed, suggesting complex seasonal adaptations in caterpillar populations.

Morais, H. C., & Diniz, I. R. (2015). Caterpillar seasonality in a central Brazilian cerrado. Revista de Biología Tropical, 1025–1033. https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v47i4.19306