A within-species warning function for an aposematic signal.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Papaj DR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC1599780 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
A within-species warning function for an aposematic signal.
Papaj Daniel R DR Newsom Ginny M GM
Proceedings. Biological sciences 20051201 1580
Aposematic, or warning, signals are generally interspecific in form: one species advertises noxiousness to a predator or parasite species. In a study of the pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor), we show that a pattern of colouration in the caterpillars that is considered to be aposematic in the context of attack by natural enemies also deters oviposition by conspecific females. In field and laboratory assays, females avoided oviposition on plants bearing live conspecific larvae. Fema ...[more]
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