THE INFLUENCE OF SEX RATIO ON FEMALE DISPERSAL IN DANAUS PLEXIPPUS (L.) (LEPIDOPTERA: DANAIDAE) |
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| Authors: | Y. Suzuki M. P. Zalucki |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Entomology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4067. |
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| Abstract: | b
A capture-recapture experiment on wanderer butterflies was conducted during summer, 1984 at 4 milkweed patches where nectar resources were abundant. The recapture rate was higher in males than in females in all the patches, indicating dispersal by females. Dispersal of females was facilitated by removing males in the study areas. Spermatophore counts showed that females mated up to 10 times. These results suggest that nutrients transferred from males during copulation are important resources for females. |
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