Editing Aconitum (section)

==Ecology==
''Aconitum'' species have been recorded as food plant of the caterpillars of several [[Lepidoptera|moths]]. The yellow tiger moth ''[[Arctia flavia]]'', and the purple-shaded gem ''[[Euchalcia variabilis]]'' are at home on ''A.&nbsp;vulparia''.<ref name='Bellmann'>{{cite book|first= Heiko|last= Bellmann|year= 2003|title= Der neue Kosmos Schmetterlingsführer|publisher= Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH|location= Stuttgart}}</ref> The engrailed ''[[Ectropis crepuscularia]]'', yellow-tail ''[[Euproctis similis]]'', mouse moth ''[[Amphipyra tragopoginis]]'', pease blossom ''[[Periphanes delphinii]]'', and ''[[Mniotype]] bathensis'', have been observed feeding on ''A.&nbsp;napellus''. The purple-lined sallow ''[[Pyrrhia exprimens]]'', and ''[[Blepharita amica]]'' were found eating from ''A.&nbsp;septentrionale''. The dot moth ''[[Melanchra persicariae]]'' occurs both on ''A.&nbsp;septentrionale'' and ''A.&nbsp;intermedium''. The golden plusia ''[[Polychrysia moneta]]'' is hosted by ''A.&nbsp;vulparia'', ''A.&nbsp;napellus'', ''A.&nbsp;septentrionale'', and ''A.&nbsp;intermedium''. Other moths associated with ''Aconitum'' species include the wormwood pug ''[[Eupithecia absinthiata]]'', satyr pug ''[[Eupithecia satyrata|E. satyrata]]'', ''[[Aterpia]] charpentierana'', and ''[[Aterpia corticana|A.&nbsp;corticana]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title= Aconitum|website= [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]]|year= 2023|doi= 10.5519/havt50xw|url= http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/hostplants/search/list.dsml?searchPageURL=index.dsml&Familyqtype=starts+with&Family=&PFamilyqtype=starts+with&PFamily=&Genusqtype=starts+with&Genus=&PGenusqtype=starts+with&PGenus=Aconitum&Speciesqtype=starts+with&Species=&PSpeciesqtype=starts+with&PSpecies=&Country=&sort=Family|last1= Robinson|first1= Gaden S.|last2= Ackery|first2= Phillip R.|last3= Kitching|first3= Ian|last4= Beccaloni|first4= George W.|last5= Hernández|first5= Luis M.}}</ref> It is also the primary food source for the Old World bumblebees ''[[Bombus consobrinus]]'' and ''Bombus gerstaeckeri''.<ref name="atlashymenoptera">{{cite web|url=http://www.atlashymenoptera.net/pagetaxon.asp?tx_id=2956|title=Atlas Hymenoptera - Atlas of the European Bees - STEP project|publisher=atlashymenoptera.net|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Plant-Pollinator Interactions: From Specialization to Generalization|author1=Waser, N.M.|author2=Ollerton, J.|date=2006|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226874005|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fbl5c9fUxTIC|page=69|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atlashymenoptera.net/page.asp?id=169 |title=Atlas of the European Bees: genus Bombus |last=Rasmont |first=Pierre |date=2014 |website=Atlas Hymenoptera |publisher=Université de Mons |access-date=23 September 2019 }}</ref>
[[File:Monnikskap (Aconitum), 07-09-2024. (actm.).jpg|thumb| Empty seed pod.]]
Aconitum flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bumblebees.<ref name="Bosch">{{cite journal |last1=Blanché |first1=César |last2=Bosch |first2=Maria |last3=Molero |first3=Juliá |last4=Simon |first4=Joan |date=1997 |title=Pollination Ecology In Tribe Delphineae (Ranunculaceae) in W Mediterranean Area: Floral Visitors And Pollinator Behavior |url=http://institucional.us.es/revistas/lagascalia/19/Pollination%20Bosch.pdf |journal=Lagascalia |volume=19 |issue=1–2 |pages=545–562 |access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref> Bumblebees have the strength to open the flowers and reach the single nectary at the top of the flower on its inside.<ref name="Bosch"/> Some short-tongued bees will bore holes into the tops of the flowers to steal nectar.<ref name="Bosch"/> However, alkaloids in the nectar function as a deterrent for species unsuited to pollination. The effect is greater in certain species, such as ''[[Aconitum napellus]]'', than in others, such as ''[[Aconitum lycoctonum]]''.<ref name="Barlow">{{cite journal |last1=Barberis |first1=Marta |last2=Barlow |first2=Sarah |last3=Brankin |first3=Alice |last4=Farrell |first4=Ian |last5=Ma |first5=Carolyn |last6=Marr |first6=Emily |last7=Pavlik |first7=Bruce |last8=Stevenson |first8=Philip |last9=Wright |first9=Geraldine |author-link9=Geraldine Wright|date=2017 |title=Distasteful nectar deters floral robbery |url=http://gala.gre.ac.uk/17458/3/17458%20STEVENSON_Distasteful_Nectar_Deters_Floral_Robbery_2017.pdf |journal=Current Biology |volume=21;27 |issue=16 |pages=2552–2558.e3 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2017.07.012 |pmid=28803876 |s2cid=9657915 |access-date=10 February 2019|doi-access=free |bibcode=2017CBio...27E2552B }}</ref> Unlike the species with blue-purple flowers such as ''A.&nbsp;napellus'', ''A.&nbsp;lycoctonum''—which has off-white to pale yellow flowers, has been found to be a nectar source for butterflies.<ref name="Bosch"/> This is likely due to the nectary flowers of the latter being more easily reachable by the butterflies; however, the differing alkaloid character of the two plants may also play a significant role or be the primary influence.<ref name="Bosch"/>