Meeting Abstract

45.4  Jan. 6  Sexual Behavior, Intraspecific Signaling and the Evolution of Mimicry among Closely Related Species ESTRADA, C.**; JIGGINS, C.D.; GILBERT, L.E.; Univ. of Texas, Austin; Univ. of Edinburgh; Univ. of Texas, Austin estradac@mail.utexas.edu

Species that enjoy some measure of protection from predators due to their aggressive behavior or toxicity often exhibit warning colorations. When such aposematic color patterns are also used in intraspecific recognition, there is a possibility of signaling conflict if different species converge in color pattern due to mimicry. Despise the considerable amount of work on the origin and persistence of mimicry, very little is known about the constraints that such conflicts might impose on recognition and communication among mimetic species. Butterflies primarily use visual cues in mate location and recognition, and are a good model system to study such signaling conflicts. Differences in wing color patterns often keep closely related species reproductively isolated. At the same time, these color patterns are also used for protection as warning signals against predators. Using Heliconius butterflies (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) we examine levels of communication conflicts, and mechanisms that provide alternative mate recognition cues that reduce the potential of such conflicts between co-mimic species. We present results about the extent of interspecific attraction between two mimetic species H. erato and H. melpomene, which exhibit a series of pairs of geographic races that have converged in color pattern and habitat use in almost every locality across their range in Central and South America. We also discuss how larval diet specialization affects the the mating system in these butterflies, mitigating communication conflicts, and facilitating the evolution of mimicry among closely related species.