Selection of perching site background color by Hamadryas feronia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica: Implications for industrial melanism
Observations of the increased frequency of melanic forms in moths of the genus Biston in Great Britain after the industrial revolution lead to the development of the theory of industrial Melanism. Nonetheless, arguments against that interpretation of the experimental evidence have polarized acceptan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Vicerractoría Investigación
2012-09-01
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| Series: | Revista de Biología Tropical |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442012000300022&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1797706995391791104 |
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| author | Luis Ricardo Murillo-Hiller |
| author_facet | Luis Ricardo Murillo-Hiller |
| author_sort | Luis Ricardo Murillo-Hiller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Observations of the increased frequency of melanic forms in moths of the genus Biston in Great Britain after the industrial revolution lead to the development of the theory of industrial Melanism. Nonetheless, arguments against that interpretation of the experimental evidence have polarized acceptance of the concept. New evidence based on diurnal butterflies is more credible because it involves behavior that can be seen in action, during daylight, and because the natural history of the selected species is well known. An experiment was carried out in which three substrate colors (white, black, and gray) were employed to test the landing preferences of Hamadryas feronia. A marked preference was observed for landing on white and gray, and a chi-square (N=644 tests) showed evidence of a preference by males to land on white, and for females to land on gray. Black was rejected perhaps because it provides very little background matching with the butterfly’s colors. The butterfly habit of perching selectively on particular color substrates is a genetically fixed behavior, where the males possibly choose white as a tactic to be noticed by females and attract them, whereas females prefer gray to enhance crypsis and avoid attracting predators. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:00:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e43368c678b4ae48b85db8c70acaea7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0034-7744 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:00:47Z |
| publishDate | 2012-09-01 |
| publisher | Vicerractoría Investigación |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista de Biología Tropical |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e43368c678b4ae48b85db8c70acaea72023-09-03T04:11:04ZengVicerractoría InvestigaciónRevista de Biología Tropical0034-77442012-09-0160312311236S0034-77442012000300022Selection of perching site background color by Hamadryas feronia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica: Implications for industrial melanismLuis Ricardo Murillo-Hiller0Universidad de Costa RicaObservations of the increased frequency of melanic forms in moths of the genus Biston in Great Britain after the industrial revolution lead to the development of the theory of industrial Melanism. Nonetheless, arguments against that interpretation of the experimental evidence have polarized acceptance of the concept. New evidence based on diurnal butterflies is more credible because it involves behavior that can be seen in action, during daylight, and because the natural history of the selected species is well known. An experiment was carried out in which three substrate colors (white, black, and gray) were employed to test the landing preferences of Hamadryas feronia. A marked preference was observed for landing on white and gray, and a chi-square (N=644 tests) showed evidence of a preference by males to land on white, and for females to land on gray. Black was rejected perhaps because it provides very little background matching with the butterfly’s colors. The butterfly habit of perching selectively on particular color substrates is a genetically fixed behavior, where the males possibly choose white as a tactic to be noticed by females and attract them, whereas females prefer gray to enhance crypsis and avoid attracting predators.http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442012000300022&lng=en&tlng=encrypsisdisruptive colorationcamouflageindustrial melanismbehavior |
| spellingShingle | Luis Ricardo Murillo-Hiller Selection of perching site background color by Hamadryas feronia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica: Implications for industrial melanism Revista de Biología Tropical crypsis disruptive coloration camouflage industrial melanism behavior |
| title | Selection of perching site background color by Hamadryas feronia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica: Implications for industrial melanism |
| title_full | Selection of perching site background color by Hamadryas feronia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica: Implications for industrial melanism |
| title_fullStr | Selection of perching site background color by Hamadryas feronia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica: Implications for industrial melanism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selection of perching site background color by Hamadryas feronia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica: Implications for industrial melanism |
| title_short | Selection of perching site background color by Hamadryas feronia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Costa Rica: Implications for industrial melanism |
| title_sort | selection of perching site background color by hamadryas feronia lepidoptera nymphalidae in costa rica implications for industrial melanism |
| topic | crypsis disruptive coloration camouflage industrial melanism behavior |
| url | http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442012000300022&lng=en&tlng=en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luisricardomurillohiller selectionofperchingsitebackgroundcolorbyhamadryasferonialepidopteranymphalidaeincostaricaimplicationsforindustrialmelanism |