The strange case of the African Swallowtail

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I have created a gallery for each of the Wisley butterflies at 
http://www.colinknightimages.com/Nature-Photography-UK/Tropical-butterflies

On Monday I returned to Wisley RHS for another slice of butterfly paradise and met up with Mark and James. I found  an Autumn Leafwing and some African Mocker Swallowtails.

The African Swallowtail, Papilio dardanus, is interesting because the females exhibit polymorphic mimicry and as a result have been the object of much study by biologists, including some of the biggest names in entomology and evolutionary theory.

Mimicry is where a species imitates the characteristics of another species to derive some benefit. In this case the African Swallowtail, which is edible, looks like another butterfly which is poisonous, and so predators tend to avoid it having learnt that the poisonous butterfly (called the Model) is unpalatable. It is important that the numbers of the mimics do not exceed the numbers of the models else the predators would learn to eat the mimic.

Polymorphic mimics have many forms, each imitating a different poisonous species. Fourteen different forms of the female African Swallowtail are known. The male has only one form.
A full explanation of mimicry in this species with images of the different forms can be seen here: http://www.biology.duke.edu/nijhout/images/Dardanus2003.pdf

At Wisley I found two forms of the female:  Hippocoon and a yellow form of Hippocoonides.
The yellow form of Papilio dardanus hippocoonides (known as Papilio dardanus polytrophus f trimeni) mimics the yellow form of the poisonous monarch Amauris niavius which is found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Africa.  Amauris niavius serves as a model for many edible butterflies.

Hippocoonides form:

my photo of Papilio dardanus polytrophus f trimeni

The model for this form:

yellow form of Amauris niavius

thanks to this Russian butterfly site for the image (click to view site)

The Hippocoon form is a beautiful black and white butterfly which continually came to nectar on hibiscus flowers while hovering so I was able to shoot some high speed photos (800th sec). It mimics Amauris ochlea (The Novice) and Amauris niavius (The Friar).

Hippocoon form:

my photo of Papilio dardanus f hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail 

The models for this form can be seen at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflies/guide/black.htm
(Friar, Amauris niavius: row 3 no 6; Novice, Amauris ochlea  row 8 no 3)

Wisley butterflies:

Caligo memnon, Owl

Caligo memnon, Owl

Caligo memnon, Owl

Doleschallia bisaltide, Autumn Leafwing

Doleschallia bisaltide, Autumn Leafwing

Doleschallia bisaltide, Autumn Leafwing

Hebornia glaucippe, Giant Orange Tip

Hebornia glaucippe, Giant Orange Tip

Hebornia glaucippe, Giant Orange Tip

Hebornia glaucippe, Giant Orange Tip

Hebornia glaucippe, Giant Orange Tip

Heliconius charithonia, Zebra Longwing

Heliconius charithonia, Zebra Longwing

Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph 

Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph

Kallima paralekta, Indian Leafwing

Kallima paralekta, Indian Leafwing

Indian Leafwing with Owls and Morphos

Kallima paralekta, Indian Leafwing

Kallima paralekta, Indian Leafwing

Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho

Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho

Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho

Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho

Papilio dardanus f hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail

Papilio dardanus f hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail

This black & white form of the female African Swallowtail is known as the 'hippocoon' form.

Papilio dardanus f hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail

Papilio dardanus hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail

Papilio dardanus hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail

Papilio dardanus hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail

Papilio dardanus  hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail

Papilio dardanus hippocoon (Female), African Mocker Swallowtail

Papilio palinurus, Emerald Swallowtail

Papilio polytes, Common Mormon female

Papilio polytes, Common Mormon male

Papilio polytes, Common Mormon female

This butterfly was attracted to the plastic chain. I assume the red and white pattern suggested a flowering nectar source. She hovered round the chain for several minutes.

Papilio rumanzovia, Scarlet Swallowtail

Siproeta stelenes, Malachite

Siproeta stelenes, Malachite

Troides rhadamantus, Golden Birdwing

Troides rhadamantus, Golden Birdwing

Owl caterpillar

Wisley crocus bank

Wisley Gardens laboratory and pond

Wisley pond