Search results for "Butterfly"
showing 3 items of 53 documents
Population genetic structure of the butterflyMelitaea didyma(Nymphalidae) along a northern distribution range border
1996
The population genetic structure of the butterfly Melitaea didyma was studied along the northern distribution range border in Central Germany by means of allozyme electrophoresis. Individuals were sampled from a total of 21 habitat patches from four regions, and two provinces. Sampling was designed to estimate local vs. regional differentiation. High levels of variability were found, He= 0.14-0.21. The mean expected sample heterozygosity from one region, Mosel, was significantly lower than from the Hammelburg region, He= 0.17 and 0.19, respectively. Two hierarchical levels of genetic differentiation were found. Within regions individuals sampled from different patches behaved as belonging t…
The Giant Butterfly-moths of the Natural History Museum of Wrocław University, Poland, with comments about Friedrich Wilhelm Niepelt and his insect c…
2013
Even though natural history museums are seen by some as rather gloomy places, they are actually repositories of countless treasures and magnificent sources of knowledge. The Museum of Natural History of the University of Wroclaw is no exception. A process to curate all Museum’s Lepidoptera that started in 2012 allowed us to find among its several collections, the one that originally belonged to the renowned entomologist and insect dealer Friedrich Wilhelm Niepelt. Among the few moth groups in such collection 37 specimens within 19 species and 22 taxa of the neotropical giant butterfly-moths (Castniidae) were found. Even though several of those specimens lack detailed collecting information,…
Transparency reduces predator detection in mimetic clearwing butterflies
2019
International audience; 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 if transparency of butterfly wings was associated with decreased detectability by predators, by comparing four butterfly species exhibiting different degrees of transparency, ranging from ful…