The learning abilities of the white cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae, foraging for flowers

Abstract

This study examines the role of learning and memory in the butterfly Pieris rapae crucivora Boisduval during foraging for flowers. In an outdoor cage with 6 flower species, P. rapae showed various visiting patterns: some visited only one species, while others visited several species in a day. The foraging process for flowers of Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. could be divided into two successive steps: (1) landing on the nectaring caputs, and (2) finding the source of nectar in the caput. Butterflies learned to proceed through the two steps more efficiently with successive attempts: they gradually decreased landings on nectarless caputs and probings on the nectarless petals of ligulate flowers respectively. As a result, handling time per unit caputs became shorter, and apparent rewards per unit time, i.e. the efficiency of collecting nectar, increased. In addition, once learned, P. rapae could remember a rewarding flower color for 3 days, which was not interfered with by learning another flower color. This indicates that P. rapae keeps memory for a period longer than 3 days, and that they can remember at least two flower species as suitable flower resources. Furthermore, data indicated that they sometimes can apply the foraging skills obtained on other flower species to a novel one. These abilities could enable butterflies to easily switch flower species, or to enhance labile preference. It has been known that P. rapae also shows flower constancy, which may be due to memory constraints. Therefore, they may appropriately use two foraging tactics: visit consistency and labile preference, to get enough nectar according to their circumstances.

Interspecific and intersexual learning rate differences in four butterfly species

“…Sato and Takasu, 2000;Shafir, 1996;Takasu et al, 2007), hoverflies (Goulson and Wright, 1998), butterflies (e.g. Kandori and Ohsaki, 1996;Kandori and Ohsaki, 1998;Kinoshita et al, 1999;Lewis, 1986;Lewis, 1989;Swihart and Swihart, 1970) and moths (e.g. Cunningham et al, 2004;Cunningham et al, 1998;Kelber, 1996;Kelber, 2002).…”

“…With increased experience, bees and butterflies can improve their flower handling skills and/or shorten the time required to find a nectar or pollen source in flowers (e.g. Kandori and Ohsaki, 1996;Laverty, 1980;Lewis, 1986;Raine and Chittka, 2007). Moreover, honeybees and hawkmoths are able to remember unrewarding patterns or colours and avoid them (Kelber, 1996;Srinivasan et al, 1994).…”

Ommatidial heterogeneity in the compound eye of the male small white butterfly, Pieris rapae crucivora

“…Of butterflies with a tapetum, the visual characteristics of the Pieridae have been intensely investigated in the last few decades (Obara and Hidaka 1968;Ribi 1978Ribi , 1979aRibi , 1979bRibi , 1980Kolb 1978;Scherer and Kolb 1987;Shimohigashi and Tominaga 1991;Goulson and Cory 1993;Kandori and Ohsaki 1996). The study of Shimohigashi and Tominaga (1991) is of specific interest, as it shows that the compound eye of the small white, Pieris rapae, contains at least five different classes of spectral receptors, similar to those of Papilio xuthus (Arikawa et al 1987).…”

Foraging responses in the butterflies Inachis io , Aglais urticae (Nymphalidae), and Gonepteryx rhamni (Pieridae) to floral scents

“…At a plant, butterflies can taste the nectar and judge its content. However, from a distance visual floral cues become essential, and the ability of butterflies to associate colours with food reward is highly developed (Ilse 1928;Swihart & Swihart 1970;Lewis & Lipani 1990;Goulson & Cory 1993;Weiss 1995;Kandori & Ohsaki 1996). In addition to floral colour, floral scent plays a central role (Pellmyr 1986;Honda et al 1998).…”