Preference of Virgin Females for Male Wing Color in a Sexually Dichromatic Butterfly,Pseudozizeeria maha(Lycaenidae)

Abstract

Utilization of wing colors in intraspecific communication in butterflies has been widely examined for males, but much less examined for females, and inconsistent results on the female preference for male wing colors have been reported. In the present paper, we report results of examinations of the preference of virgin females for the male wing color of a sexually dichromatic lycaenid, Pseudozizeeria maha. Females were subjected to choice tests between two models that differed in color and were made of butterfly wings or butterfly-shaped pieces of paper. Models were presented with rotating and revolving movements to a female placed in the natural habitat, and the times females stayed near the two models were compared. The females stayed significantly longer at a model made of the blue male wing than at one made of the black female wing, and at a model colored bluish than at any model colored non-bluish. Female choice for the male wing color was confirmed here for the first time in lycaenid butterflies, which supports the idea that conspicuous male colors have evolved and are maintained by female choice.