Tuesday 14 February 2012

The strange case of the African Swallowtail


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

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

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