ULTRAVIOLET COLORS IN BUTTERFLIES - INTRASPECIFIC OR INTER-SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION

Amongst the Lepidoptera, ultraviolet wing patterns are common. Where c losely related species are sympatric, it has been thought that these p atterns play a significant role in species recognition. In Europe, a n umber of Colias and Gonepteryx species of butterflies occur sympatrica lly, exhibiting similar visible and ultraviolet (vv) patterns. We anal ysed the uv and visible wavelengths, using reflectance spectrometry, f or evidence of species specific uv colours. A great deal of variation was found to occur between reflected wavelengths of individuals but no t between species. Individual variation in vv was so great that butter flies (or butterfly predators) would be unlikely to recognise particul ar species on the basis of uv colours. We suggest that variation in vv reflectance in male Pierid butterflies is more likely to be associate d with mate choice by females or with male-male interactions.