Butterflies of the World - Lifecycle, Ecology, Taxonomy, Conservation, Photography, Butterfly Holidays, Photo Galleries, Book Reviews and more.........
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Strategies for Survival PAGE 6
 
Butterflies occur in an incredible variety of sizes, shapes, colours and patterns. Each design serves a dual role. Firstly it must act as a "badge", identifying the butterfly to potential mates. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it must function to protect the butterfly from predators, typically by using camouflage, warning coloration, mimicry or transparency.
 
PAGE 1 - MATE RECOGNITION
PAGE 2 - CAMOUFLAGE and DISGUISE
PAGE 3 - APOSEMATIC COLOURATION
PAGE 4 - MIMICRY
PAGE 5 - SEXUAL DIMORPHISM
PAGE 6 - ROOSTING BEHAVIOUR
 
 
 
Roosting behaviour

In cool or rainy weather butterflies are inactive, and thus particularly vulnerable to attack by birds and small mammals.

In tropical areas many species hide away beneath leaves, even when sunny, and only come into the open to undertake specific tasks such as feeding or reproducing. This behaviour is very widespread amongst the metalmarks ( Riodinidae ) and Spreadwing skippers ( Pyrginae ).
Eurybia molochina, ( Riodinidae ) hiding beneath a leaf in the Peruvian rainforest

In temperate zones members of the Papilionidae and Pieridae normally roost beneath the leaves of herbaceous plants. Species which hibernate as adults need a particularly effective disguise, as they have to avoid being seen for many months. The Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni for example is superbly camouflaged as it hangs beneath the leaves of bramble or ivy during the winter months. The wings are leaf-like in shape and colour, and even have raised venation to simulate the veins of leaves.
Gonepteryx rhamni, ( Pieridae ) hibernating beneath a bramble leaf, West Sussex, England

In contrast many members of the Nymphalinae roost hanging beneath tree branches, where their underside patterns offer an effective dead-leaf disguise.
Polygonia c-album, ( Nymphalinae ) hibernating beneath a branch, West Sussex, England

Pyrgines such as the Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae usually roost at the top of dead flower-heads. The Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages behaves similarly, but takes things a stage further by wrapping it's wings tightly around dead knapweed flowers, where it is almost impossible to see ( unless you are a very determined entomologist ! ).
Erynnis tages, ( Pyrginae ) roosting on a dead knapweed flower, Hampshire, England

Polyommatines ( Blues ) normally roost at the top of grass heads, assuming a head-downwards position. Satyrines such as Small Heath, Marbled White and Meadow Brown nearly always roost on grass heads or flower heads. Checkerspots and small Fritillaries ( Melitaeinae ) adopt a similar tactic, often roosting on the flowers of rushes. Such strategies at first seem a little difficult to understand, as the butterflies are easily spotted. The probable explanation is that they are choosing sites where they are out of reach of nocturnal predators such as mice.
Mellicta athalia, ( Nymphalinae : Melitaeini ) roosting on a rush flower, Kent, England
 
Chalkhill Blue Lysandra coridon, at roost on grass head, Hampshire, England
 
 
 
 
Related subjects :
 
Taxonomy  - the classification and characteristics of butterfly families and sub-families.
Lifecycle - egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, adult butterfly, courtship, reproduction.
Parasitoids and Predators - of eggs, larvae, pupae and adult butterflies.
 
Text and butterfly photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007-2008, and must not be reproduced or published in part or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
 
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