Biased learning affects mate choice in a butterfly

[NickB]

"Wing Bling: For Female Butterflies, Flashier Is Better"
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 153115.htm

Not sure what to make of this - but sounds interesting - as often we see "conclusions" that are not necessarily ones which others may have come to.....
N

[tomdunbar]

The researchers found that female butterflies of the species learn to prefer males with four spots on their forewings over those with two spots.

Interesting extract.

Some thoughts spring to mind:
What were the criteria for defining

prefer

during the research ? -was it tolerate their presence? / pre-mating behaviours? / copulation observed? / successful copulation resulting in fertilised eggs and successful lifecycle?

When cross-species occurances of mating occurs in the wild (Sussex Kipper's observation of one a couple of years ago - can't remember which species) can it be successful?

Tom Dunbar

[Padfield]

When cross-species occurances of mating occurs in the wild (Sussex Kipper's observation of one a couple of years ago - can't remember which species) can it be successful?

This gets quoted a lot but is probably worth quoting again ... From http://www.ucl.ac.uk/taxome/jim/pap/des ... 0print.pdf:

"Around 16% of the 440 European butterfly species are known to hybridize in the wild. About half or more of these hybrids are fertile, and show evidence of backcrossing" (p.1).

Guy