Flower colour preferences of Aporia bieti (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in the Xiama Forest Farm,Gansu, China

In addition to their ornamental value, butterflies provide value to flowering plants through pollination, which can improve their heterosis. Studying the relationship between butterflies and flowers is useful for understanding the adaptive relationship between them. By observing the pollinating and feeding behaviour of Aporia bieti in the Xiama forest, Gansu, we explored the adaptive relationship between A. bieti proboscis size and the corolla tube length of the flowers. To eliminate interference from the butterfly's sense of smell, we used foam flowers instead of real flowers. The results indicated that (1) of the red, yellow, pink, purple, and white flowers tested, yellow flowers were preferred; (2) there was no distinct difference in the preferences of A. bieti for large- (45 mm) and small- (25 mm) sized flowers; and (3) A. bieti proboscis length was significantly related to the corolla tube length of the flowers fed on by the butterfly, which suggests co-evolution between butterfly proboscis length and the length of the pollen tube.     

Food remains from Bronze Age-Archondiko and Mesimeriani Toumba in northern Greece?

Finds of fragmented cereal grain from the sites of Mesimeriani Toumba and Archondiko in Macedonia, northern Greece, dated to 2100-1900 cal. B.C. provide the basis for the experimental investigation of the effects of a) fragmentation before and after charring, b) treatment of grain with water and c) charring conditions, on the morphology of the fracture surface. The experiments indicate that it is possible to distinguish fragmentation before and after charring and, with low charring temperatures, it is possible to distinguish prior treatment of grain with hot water. Comparison of the archaeological grain with the grain produced experimentally suggests that both archaeologieal finds represent ground grain, and at least those from Mesimeriani correspond to some type of wheat bulgur, probably intended for human consumption. These finds mark the prehistoric origins of a foodstuff widely used in Mediterranean cuisine. Further experimentation along the lines followed here would be desirable. Received January 8, 2002 / Accepted April 1, 2002