Developmental dynamics of butterfly wings: real-time in vivo whole-wing imaging of twelve butterfly species.

ABSTRACT: Colour pattern development of butterfly wings has been studied from several different approaches. However, developmental changes in the pupal wing tissues have rarely been documented visually. In this study, we recorded real-time developmental changes of the pupal whole wings of 9 nymphalid, 2 lycaenid, and 1 pierid species in vivo, from immediately after pupation to eclosion, using the forewing-lift method. The developmental period was roughly divided into four sequential stages. At the very early stage, the wing tissue was transparent, but at the second stage, it became semi-transparent and showed dynamic peripheral adjustment and slow low-frequency contractions. At this stage, the wing peripheral portion diminished in size, but simultaneously, the ventral epithelium expanded in size. Li

SUBMITTER: Iwata M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6237780 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature