Female Butterflies See UV Light Thanks to a Gene Hiding in an Unusual Place

August 10, 2023 • by Staff Writer

In some species, female and male butterflies apparently perceive colors differently.

A butterfly with black and white striped wings

Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia) at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas. Public domain image produced as part of the “Insects Unlocked” project. Photo credit: Alejandro Santillana/University of Texas at Austin.


Two male butterflies with black and white striped wings sit on a the pupal case of a female butterfly

Two Heliconius charithonia males sit on the pupal case of a female, competing to mate with her when she emerges. Photo credit: Larry Gilbert/University of Texas at Austin.

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