Hind wings help butterflies make swift turns to evade predators, s...(lities that are linked with their bright...)

Date:1/8/2009

lities that are linked with their bright coloring as a sign for predators not to eat them. Monarchs also taste bad, for example. Other studies have shown that distasteful butterflies are slower and easier to catch. Butterfly wings are also scaly, slipping easily from a bird's bill, and if the butterfly is caught it's found to be "mostly wrapper and very little candy," said Eisner.

"The wings are also colorful advertising for the whole group," said Jantzen. "The colors say, we are butterflies, don't bother to chase us, because you won't catch us."

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Contact: Blaine Friedlander bpf2@cornell.edu 607-254-8093 Cornell University Communications Source:Eurekalert

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