Why do the ithomiines (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) aggregate? Notes on a butterfly pocket in central Brazil

Pinheiro, Carlos E. G.; Medri, Ísis Meri; Salcedo, Ana Karina Moreyra

doi:10.1590/s0085-56262008000400012

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Great tits are sensitive to UV wavelengths (UVS vision in Ödeen, Håstad, & Alström, 2011). Their vision is similar to that of naturally occurring Ithomiini predators such as the houtouc motmot (Momotus momota, Pinheiro, Medri, & Salcedo, 2008), the fawn-breasted tanager (Pipraeidea melanonota, Brown & Neto, 1976), or the rufous-tailed tanager (Ramphocelus carbo, Brower, Brower, & Collins, 1963). However, unlike Neotropical insectivorous birds, great tits are naïve to ithomiine butterflies and have not learned to associate their colour patterns to toxicity.…”

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confidence: 99%

Transparency reduces predator detection in mimetic clearwing butterflies

et al. 2019

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Predation is an important selective pressure, and some prey have evolved conspicuous warning signals that advertise unpalatability (i.e., aposematism) as an antipredator defence. Conspicuous colour patterns have been shown effective as warning signals, by promoting predator learning and memory. Unexpectedly, some butterfly species from the unpalatable tribe Ithomiini possess transparent wings, a feature rare on land but common in water, known to reduce predator detection. We tested whether transparency of butterfly wings was associated with decreased detectability by predators, by comparing four butterfly species exhibiting different degrees of transparency, ranging from fully opaque to largely transparent. We tested our prediction using both wild birds and humans in behavioural experiments. Vision modelling predicted butterfly detectability to be similar for these two predator types. In concordance with predictions, the most transparent species were almost never found first and were detected less often than the opaque species by both birds and humans, suggesting that transparency enhances crypsis. However, humans were able to learn to better detect the more transparent species over time. Our study demonstrates for the first time that transparency on land likely decreases detectability by visual predators. A plain language summary is available for this article.

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confidence: 99%

Transparency reduces predator detection in mimetic clearwing butterflies

et al. 2019

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“…When the availability of host-plant increases, the population explodes and colonizes other localities during the reproductive season (April to October). Pocket populations have never been described for Heliconius but have been documented in Ithomiinae butterflies [17], which inhabit areas with adverse conditions [38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-Term Dynamics Reveals Seasonality in a Subtropical Heliconius Butterfly

et al. 2015

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Although tropical insect populations are generally regarded as constant and stable over time, some of these tropical populations, including butterflies, may fluctuate according to precipitation and temperature variation, specialized feeding patterns, and densitydependent factors. Heliconiini butterfly populations are generally regarded as stable over time because of the presence of hostplants and absence of diapause. However, peaks of abundance occur in subtropical Heliconius populations, and opposite trends concerning stability are found in the literature. Here we further investigate the dynamics of subtropical Heliconius butterflies by assessing a population of the species Heliconius sara apseudes from southeastern Brazil. We estimated individual apparent survival probability and population growth rate while accounting for the imperfect detectability of individuals using mark-recapture models to evaluate the population dynamics. Adult males presented slightly higher weekly survival estimates than females. Contrary to the common pattern described in the literature for Heliconius populations we observed a rapid decline on the adult population by the end of the mating season, possibly leading to local extinction. We discuss the potential drivers for such dynamics.

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“…The first consists of following fast-flying individuals by sight and attacking them if they perch within the birds' visual field. This is also used by many other birds that eat butterflies such as tyrantflycatchers (Tyrannidae) (Pinheiro 1996(Pinheiro , 2003, AVL Freitas pers obs; see also Fitzpatrick 1980, Gabriel & Pizo 2005, puffbirds (Bucconidae) (Melo & Marini 1999), motmots (Momotidae) (Pinheiro et al 2008), and anis (Cuculidae) (Burger & Gochfeld 2001). The second consists of following moving mammals and other big animals that act as beaters and displace butterflies and other insects perched on vegetation which are subsequently detected and attacked (Rand 1953, Dean & MacDonald 1981, Barnett & Shaw 2014.…”

Section: The Responses Of Wild Predators To Butterfliesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several insectivorous birds have been reported to attack and feed on these butterflies, especially Danaus plexippus plexippus (Linnaeus) that forms large aggregations in Mexico (Fink et al 1983, Brower & Calvert 1985, but bird attacks on flying Danaus individuals were not observed. In the "Tiger" mimicry ring (Fig 1g), some larger species like Pterourus zagreus (Doubleday), Pterourus ascolius (C. Felder & R. Felder) (Papilionidae), Heliconius ethilla (Godart), Heliconius numata (Cramer), Lycorea halia (Hübner) (Danaini), and species of Melinaea Hübner (Ithomiini) exhibit greater speed and maneuverability than most Mechanitis Fabricius, Hypothyris Hübner, and Napeogenes H. Bates (Ithomiini) which are usually the most abundant butterflies in this ring (Brown & Benson 1974, DeVries 1999, Pinheiro 2007, Pinheiro et al 2008. It seems apparent that variation in escape ability occurs in palatable and unpalatable butterflies (Chai 1990, Pinheiro 1996, and that species of both categories could be ranked according to their flight behavior as it relates to predator escape ability.…”

Section: The Responses Of Wild Predators To Butterfliesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Both Palatable and Unpalatable Butterflies Use Bright Colors to Signal Difficulty of Capture to Predators

et al. 2016

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Birds are able to recognize and learn to avoid attacking unpalatable, chemically defended butterflies after unpleasant experiences with them. It has also been suggested that birds learn to avoid prey that are efficient at escaping. This, however, remains poorly documented. Here, we argue that butterflies may utilize a variety of escape tactics against insectivorous birds and review evidence that birds avoid attacking butterflies that are hard to catch. We suggest that signaling difficulty of capture to predators is a widespread phenomenon in butterflies, and this ability may not be limited to palatable butterflies. The possibility that both palatable and unpalatable species signal difficulty of capture has not been fully explored, but helps explain the existence of aposematic coloration and escape mimicry in butterflies lacking defensive chemicals. This possibility may also change the role that putative Müllerian and Batesian mimics play in a variety of classical mimicry rings, thus opening new perspectives in the evolution of mimicry in butterflies.

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Why do the ithomiines (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) aggregate? Notes on a butterfly pocket in central Brazil

Cited by 19 publications

References 28 publications

Transparency reduces predator detection in mimetic clearwing butterflies

Transparency reduces predator detection in mimetic clearwing butterflies

Short-Term Dynamics Reveals Seasonality in a Subtropical Heliconius Butterfly

Both Palatable and Unpalatable Butterflies Use Bright Colors to Signal Difficulty of Capture to Predators

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