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Colour pattern modification by coldshock in Lepidoptera.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nijhout, HF
Published in: Journal of embryology and experimental morphology
June 1984

When young pupae of Vanessa cardui, V. virginiensis and Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) are exposed to severe coldshock many develop aberrant adult wing patterns. For each species, a synchronous cohort of experimental animals always develops a broad range of aberrant pattern morphologies but these can always be arranged in a single unbranched morphological series. When such phenotypic series are compared, between species and between wing surfaces within a species (each wing surface usually bears a different colour pattern), many parallel modifications and trends become evident. These parallelisms reveal certain homologies of pattern elements and suggest that a common physiology underlies the development of a considerable diversity of normal and aberrant colour patterns. The case is made that the phenotypic series produced may represent either a series of sequential stages in colour pattern determination or, a series of quantitatively different 'interpretations' of an established gradient system. Colour pattern morphoclines reveal which patterns are developmentally 'adjacent' to one another and may therefore prove useful in elucidating the evolution of patterns.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of embryology and experimental morphology

ISSN

0022-0752

Publication Date

June 1984

Volume

81

Start / End Page

287 / 305

Related Subject Headings

  • Wings, Animal
  • Species Specificity
  • Pupa
  • Phenotype
  • Metamorphosis, Biological
  • Lepidoptera
  • Color
  • Cold Temperature
  • Butterflies
  • Animals
 

Citation

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Nijhout, H. F. (1984). Colour pattern modification by coldshock in Lepidoptera. Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology, 81, 287–305.
Nijhout, H. F. “Colour pattern modification by coldshock in Lepidoptera.Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology 81 (June 1984): 287–305.
Nijhout HF. Colour pattern modification by coldshock in Lepidoptera. Journal of embryology and experimental morphology. 1984 Jun;81:287–305.
Nijhout, H. F. “Colour pattern modification by coldshock in Lepidoptera.Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology, vol. 81, June 1984, pp. 287–305.
Nijhout HF. Colour pattern modification by coldshock in Lepidoptera. Journal of embryology and experimental morphology. 1984 Jun;81:287–305.

Published In

Journal of embryology and experimental morphology

ISSN

0022-0752

Publication Date

June 1984

Volume

81

Start / End Page

287 / 305

Related Subject Headings

  • Wings, Animal
  • Species Specificity
  • Pupa
  • Phenotype
  • Metamorphosis, Biological
  • Lepidoptera
  • Color
  • Cold Temperature
  • Butterflies
  • Animals