False head complexity and evidence of predator attacks in male and female hairstreak butterflies (Lepidoptera: Theclinae: Eumaeini) from Mexico.

ABSTRACT: In many butterfly species, the posterior end of the hindwings of individuals perching with their wings closed resembles a butterfly head. This "false head" pattern is considered an adaptation to deflect predator attacks to less vulnerable parts of the body. The presence of symmetrical damage in left and right wings is considered evidence of failed predator attacks to perching butterflies. In this research, we tested the prediction derived from the deflection hypothesis that the degree of resemblance of the false head area (FH) to a real head, as measured by the number of FH "components" (eyespots, "false antennae", modified outline of the FH area and lines converging on the FH area) present in the hindwings, is positively correlated to the frequency of symmetrical damage in the FH area. We

SUBMITTER: Novelo Galicia E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6598652 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature