Heterochromatin polymorphism and colour pattern in the tiger swallowtail butterfly Papilio glaucus L.

Nature ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 263 (5578) ◽  
pp. 585-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. CLARKE ◽  
P. M. SHEPPARD ◽  
URSULA MITTWOCH
Keyword(s):  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Papilio Glaucus ◽  
Swallowtail Butterfly ◽  
Heterochromatin Polymorphism ◽  
Tiger Swallowtail

Regulation of dopa decarboxylase expression during colour pattern formation in wild-type and melanic tiger swallowtail butterflies

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (12) ◽  
pp. 2303-2313 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.B. Koch ◽  
D.N. Keys ◽  
T. Rocheleau ◽  
K. Aronstein ◽  
M. Blackburn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Hybridisation ◽  
Enzyme Synthesis ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Dopa Decarboxylase ◽  
Decarboxylase Activity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Papilio Glaucus ◽  
Yellow Colour ◽  
Pigment Synthesis ◽  
Tiger Swallowtail

The eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly Papilio glaucus shows a striking example of Batesian mimicry. In this species, females are either wild type (yellow and black) or melanic (where most of the yellow colour is replaced by black). In order to understand how these different colour patterns are regulated, we examined the temporal order of wing pigment synthesis via precursor incorporation studies, enzyme assays, and in situ hybridisation to mRNA encoding a key enzyme, dopa decarboxylase. We show that dopa decarboxylase provides dopamine to both of the two major colour pigments, papiliochrome (yellow) and melanin (black). Interestingly, however, dopa decarboxylase activity is spatially and temporally regulated, being utilised early in presumptive yellow tissues and later in black. Further, in melanic females, both dopa decarboxylase activity and early papiliochrome synthesis are suppressed in the central forewing and this normally yellow area is later melanised. These results show that the regulation of enzyme synthesis observed in the yellow/black pattern of a single wing, is similar to that involved in melanism. We infer that dopa decarboxylase activity must be regulated in concert with downstream enzymes of either the melanin and/or the papiliochrome specific pathways, forming part of a developmental switch between yellow or black. This modification of multiple enzyme activities in concert is consistent with a model of melanisation involving coordinate regulation of the underlying synthetic pathways by a single Y-linked (female) factor.

scholarly journals Aposematism and crypsis combined as a result of distance dependence: functional versatility of the colour pattern in the swallowtail butterfly larva

2005 ◽  
Vol 272 (1570) ◽  
pp. 1315-1321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitta S Tullberg ◽  
Sami Merilaita ◽  
Christer Wiklund
Keyword(s):  
Short Distance ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Detection Time ◽  
Swallowtail Butterfly ◽  
Distance Dependence ◽  
Close Range ◽  
Colour Patterns ◽  
Functional Versatility

The idea that an aposematic prey combines crypsis at a distance with conspicuousness close up was tested in an experiment using human subjects. We estimated detectability of the aposematic larva of the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon , in two habitats, by presenting, on a touch screen, photographs taken at four different distances and measuring the time elapsed to discovery. The detectability of larvae in these images was compared with images that were manipulated, using existing colours either to increase or decrease conspicuousness. Detection time increased with distance for all colourations. However, at the closest distance, detection time was longer for the larvae manipulated to be more cryptic than for the natural and more conspicuous forms. This indicates that the natural colouration is not maximally cryptic at a short distance. Further, smaller increments in distance were needed to increase detection time for the natural than for the conspicuous larva. This indicates that the natural colouration is not maximally conspicuous at longer distances. Taken together, we present the first empirical support for the idea that some colour patterns may combine warning colouration at a close range with crypsis at a longer range. The implications of this result for the evolution of aposematism are discussed.

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