Structure of a character and the evolution of butterfly eyespot patterns

All butterfly eyespots appear to be formed by a similar developmental mecha nism. Thus the great diversity of patterns observed across different specie s of butterfly has evolved through changes in the genetic modulation of thi s mechanism. Our descriptions of both the development of eyespots and the g enetic variation for eyespot traits in an African butterfly, Bicyclus anyna na, are used here to discuss the most appropriate ways of applying the char acter concept to the evolution of butterfly eyespot patterns. (C) 2001 Wile y-Liss, Inc.