title: On the Ecology and Conservation of Sericinus montelus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) - Its Threats in Xiaolongshan Forests Area (China).
abstract: Here we present a detailed analysis of the life history, mobility and habitat requirements of the butterfly Sericinus montelus on the basis of extensive field observations, experimental breeding, capture-mark- recapture (CMR) and transect surveys.
  We found that S. montelus has three generations per year and overwinters as pupae on shrub branches in Xiaolongshan. The adults of first generation have a peak of emergence in late April. The second generation emerges at the end of June and the third in early to middle August. Within the study region, larvae of S. montelus are monophagous on Aristolochia contorta. Adults fly slowly and lay eggs in clusters.
  Life tables show that natural enemies and human activities such as mowing, weeding and trampling during the egg and larval stages are key factors causing high mortality, killing up to 43% of eggs and 72% of larvae thereby limiting population growth and recovery.
  The populations of S. montelus in Xiaolongshan have a rather patchy distribution. According to CMR data, adults fly a maximum distance of 700m within a lifespan of 6 days. The host plant A. contorta, grows along the low banks of fields, irrigation ditches and paths, and can be highly affected by agricultural activities, like mowing, weeding and herding, which impact larval survival.
  For S. montelus should mainly focus on reducing agricultural threats to the host plant A. contorta and on increasing habitat connectivity.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Silviculture and Conservation of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, 100083, Beijing, China.|Biodiversity Research Center, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, 100012, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiushan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Silviculture and Conservation of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, 100083, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Youqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Key laboratory of Oak Secondary Forest Ecosystem of Gansu Province, Research Institute of Forestry Science of Xiaolongshan Forestry Experiment Agency, 741020, Tianshui, China.
authors.forename: Haiyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: The Station of forests diseases and pests control and quarantine, Xiaolongshan Forestry Experiment Agency, 741020, Tianshui, China.
authors.forename: Qingsen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120 Halle, Germany.|iDiv, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Settele
authors.affiliation: UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120 Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schweiger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002080:Butterflies / Q000254:growth & development*; D002681:China; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D065928:Forests; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development