Mate‐locating strategies are related to relative body length and wing colour in the speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria

Abstract

1. The mate‐locating strategies of Pararge aegeria (L.) males were studied in relation to adult morphology (dorsal wing colour, forewing length, body length and forewing length : body length ratio) and generation.2. Males locate females either by perching and defending territories, or by patrolling. Individuals were more consistent in their mating strategies than expected by chance.3. Forewing length : body length ratio was positively correlated with thorax mass : body mass; relatively short‐bodied males had relatively heavy thoraxes. Therefore, forewing length : body length ratio was an index of mass allocation.4. Perching males had higher forewing length : body length ratios and were paler than patrolling males.5. The higher forewing length : body length ratio was due to the differences in body length and not wing length. Perchers had shorter bodies than patrollers.