Yellow and the Novel Aposematic Signal, Red, Protect Delias Butterflies from Predators.

ABSTRACT: Butterflies of the South Asian and Australian genus Delias possess striking colours on the ventral wings that are presumed to serve as warning signals to predators. However, this has not been shown empirically. Here we experimentally tested whether the colours of one member of this diverse genus, Delias hyparete, function as aposematic signals. We constructed artificial paper models with either a faithful colour representation of D. hyparete, or with all of its colours converted to grey scale. We also produced models where single colours were left intact, while others were converted to grey-scale or removed entirely. We placed all model types simultaneously in the field, attached to a live mealworm, and measured relative attack rates at three separate field sites. Faithful models of D. hyp

SUBMITTER: Wee JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5218396 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature