Geographic and Temporal Variation of Cardenolide-Based Chemical Defenses of Queen Butterfly ( Danaus gilippus ) in Northern Florida

摘要: The cardenolide-based chemical defenses of danaine butterflies vary macrogeographically. This study demonstrates that these also both microgeographically and temporally. We sampled 280 queen (Danaus gilippus) at 11 sites in northern Florida during the summer 1993 determined their cardenolide concentrations thin-layer chromatography profiles. Queens captured coastal salt marshes xeric inland were low concentration, while those from hydric had much higher concentrations. Concentrations varied temporally, especially sites. Thin-layer analyses wild-captured queens reared on local milkweeds indicated microgeographic temporal variation chemistry is mediated by host plants. large differences among populations must result strong palatability spectra to vertebrate predators. finding has major implications for interspecific mimicry automimicry.