Synchronisation of plants and butterflies
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 9:24 pm
This exceptionally early spring raises the question of how it is that the butterflies coordinate their emergence so beautifully with their food and nectaring plants. Here in Switzerland, many flowers have come into bloom a month early, and I know from reading your records that something similar is happening in Britain. The chrysalids of various blue species, in particular, that have spent the winter under stones or in soil, have responded by emerging a month early too.
Do the plants and the butterflies respond to the same environmental stimuli or do the plants (unwittingly) communicate their flowering to the chrysalids? One of my students suggested the butterflies could smell the nectar. It seems improbable to me, but are there other chemical changes going on that the butterflies can respond to?
I would love to know, if anyone has any information. It all seems very wonderful to me.
Guy
Do the plants and the butterflies respond to the same environmental stimuli or do the plants (unwittingly) communicate their flowering to the chrysalids? One of my students suggested the butterflies could smell the nectar. It seems improbable to me, but are there other chemical changes going on that the butterflies can respond to?
I would love to know, if anyone has any information. It all seems very wonderful to me.
Guy