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Switching and the pattern of host use by Battus philenor butterflies.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rausher, MD; Odendaal, FJ
Published in: Ecology
January 1, 1987

A model is presented that accounts mechanisticaly for the seasonal change in host-searching behavior exhibited by pipevine swallowtail butterflies in E Texas. The model assumes that the proportion of females searching for broad- (or narrow-) leaved hosts represents an equilibrium determined by the rates at which females switch search modes. Females switched search modes every 1-3h. Results were consistent with the assumption that switching occurs primarily when females alight on and oviposit on the host species for which they are not currently searching. The seasonal change in proportions of broad- and narrow-leaf searchers seems to be a consequence of a seasonal change in the rate at which females alight on hosts for which they were not currently searching. The latter change is possibly due to seasonal changes in the relative abundances of the 3 hosts and to changes in the degree to which surrounding vegetation interferes with a butterfly's ability to detect host plants. -from Authors

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ecology

DOI

ISSN

0012-9658

Publication Date

January 1, 1987

Volume

68

Issue

4

Start / End Page

869 / 877

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0501 Ecological Applications
 

Citation

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Rausher, M. D., & Odendaal, F. J. (1987). Switching and the pattern of host use by Battus philenor butterflies. Ecology, 68(4), 869–877. https://doi.org/10.2307/1938358
Rausher, M. D., and F. J. Odendaal. “Switching and the pattern of host use by Battus philenor butterflies.Ecology 68, no. 4 (January 1, 1987): 869–77. https://doi.org/10.2307/1938358.
Rausher MD, Odendaal FJ. Switching and the pattern of host use by Battus philenor butterflies. Ecology. 1987 Jan 1;68(4):869–77.
Rausher, M. D., and F. J. Odendaal. “Switching and the pattern of host use by Battus philenor butterflies.Ecology, vol. 68, no. 4, Jan. 1987, pp. 869–77. Scopus, doi:10.2307/1938358.
Rausher MD, Odendaal FJ. Switching and the pattern of host use by Battus philenor butterflies. Ecology. 1987 Jan 1;68(4):869–877.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ecology

DOI

ISSN

0012-9658

Publication Date

January 1, 1987

Volume

68

Issue

4

Start / End Page

869 / 877

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3109 Zoology
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0501 Ecological Applications