Evidence for Sexual Selection in the Mimetic Butterfly Hypolimnas misippus L.

Abstract

STRIDE^1,2 has shown that the males of Hypolimnas misippus (Nymphalidae) court artificial test insects with orange hind wings more actively than they court test insects with white hind wings. He gives evidence to suggest that white on the hind wings inhibits courtship, and suggests that this negative sexual selection is the reason why a white hind-winged form of Hypolimnas misippus has not become abundant in West Africa where it is protected by its mimetic resemblance to the white hindwinged Danaus chrysippus. His conclusions were based on the responses of free-living males towards dead and artificial test insects. This report is based on observations of free living individuals of both sexes.