Discrimination of flying mimetic, passion-vine butterflies Heliconius

Authors
Srygley, RB Ellington, CP
Citation
Rb. Srygley et Cp. Ellington, Discrimination of flying mimetic, passion-vine butterflies Heliconius, P ROY SOC B, 266(1434), 1999, pp. 2137-2140
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Experimental Biology
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ISSN journal
09628452 → ACNP
Volume
266
Issue
1434
Year of publication
1999
Pages
2137 - 2140
Database
ISI
SICI code
0962-8452(19991107)266:1434<2137:DOFMPB>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
Wing-beat frequency and the degree of asymmetry in wing motion were more si milar among mimics than among sister species of passion-vine butterflies in the genus Heliconius. Asymmetry in wing motion is not attributed to lift p roduction, and serves as the first clear example of a mimetic behavioural s ignal for a flying organism. Because the similarities in wing motion are to o subtle for humans to observe with the naked eye, they serve as a previous ly unexplored mimetic signal.