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A within-species warning function for an aposematic signal.

Daniel R Papaj1, Ginny M Newsom

  • 1University of Arizona, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. papaj@email.arizona.edu

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|November 8, 2005
PubMed
Summary
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Warning coloration in pipevine swallowtail butterfly caterpillars deters predators and also prevents females from laying eggs on the same plant. This suggests a dual role for aposematic signals in species interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Aposematic signals, typically warning coloration, usually function between species to deter predators.
  • The pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) exhibits aposematic coloration in its larval stage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the aposematic coloration of Battus philenor caterpillars influences oviposition by conspecific females.
  • To determine the role of larval color pattern in deterring conspecific females from laying eggs.

Main Methods:

  • Field and laboratory experiments were conducted using live caterpillars and artificial models.
  • Oviposition choices of female butterflies were recorded in the presence of different stimuli.
  • Artificial models mimicked larval shape, size, and color patterns.

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Main Results:

  • Female butterflies avoided laying eggs on plants with live conspecific larvae.
  • Females also avoided plants with artificial models matching the larvae's appearance.
  • Oviposition was significantly reduced on plants with models displaying the larval color pattern compared to green models.

Conclusions:

  • The aposematic color pattern of Battus philenor caterpillars deters oviposition by conspecific females, indicating an intraspecific function.
  • This finding suggests that aposematic signals can evolve through a combination of interspecific (predator deterrence) and intraspecific (mate/offspring competition avoidance) pressures.