Can nectar properties explain sex-specific flower preferences in the Adonis Blue butterfly Lysandra bellargus?

摘要: Summary 1. Field observations in the Swiss Jura mountains showed that males and females of bivoltine Adonis Blue butterfly Lysandra bellargus Rott. differed significantly their flower visitation patterns. 2. In both generations, visited a broader range available nectar plants than did males. The specific patterns were not affected by general availability abundance potential plant species during flight periods, indicating high selectivity for females. 3. addition, sexes foraging behaviours: distances between successively flowers longer females, male female butterflies have different strategies. 4. Investigations characteristics preferred with compositions. Males generations proportions sucrose amounts total sugar, whereas portions glucose nectar, and, spring generation, rich amino acids. 5. Flowers exclusively or acid composition. 6. This clear-cut pattern hold autumn most probably due to limited flowers. 7. observed underline importance adult feeding longevity reproduction butterflies. findings are particularly relevant conservation, because L. is an increasingly threatened many European countries.