You are viewing an obsolete version of the DU website which is no longer supported by the Administrators. Visit The New DU.

Latest

Greatest

Lobby

Journals

Options

Help

Reply #8: some butterflies/moths are toxic to birds - they concentrate plant toxins [View All]

Printer-friendly format

Email this thread to a friend

Bookmark this thread

This topic is archived.

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Science

Muttocracy

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Aug-02-08 09:02 PM
Response to Reply #4

8. some butterflies/moths are toxic to birds - they concentrate plant toxins

For example, monarchs - http://www.monarchlab.org/research/PNE/pne.aspx#Monarch

Birds may either respond to the coloration or learn by experience about the "yuck" factor. There are butterfly species that cheat by mimicing the toxic ones too!

Are you describing white and yellow sulfur (sulphur) moths?

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Colias_philodice.html

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Pieridae.html

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Lepidoptera.html

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Science

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home | Discussion Forums | Journals | Store | Donate

About DU | Contact Us | Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.