Supplemental data to Fig.2 and Fig.6.xlsx

In a Batesian mimic butterfly Papilio polytes, mimetic females resemble an unpalatable model, Pachliopta aristolochiae, but exhibit a different color pattern from non-mimetic females and males. In particular, the pale-yellow region on hindwings, which correspondingly sends important putative signals for mimicry and mate preference, is different in shape and chemical features between non-mimetic and mimetic morphs. Recently, we found that tmimetic type doublesex (dsx (H)) causes mimetic traits; however, the control of dimorphic pale-yellow colors remains unclear. Here, we revealed that dsx (H) switched the pale-yellow colors from UV-excited fluorescent type (non-mimetic) to UV-reflecting type (mimetic), by repressing the papiliochrome II synthesis genes and nano-structural changes in wing scales. Photo-receptor reactivities showed that some birds and butterflies could effectively recognize mimetic and non-mimetic pale-yellow colors, suggesting that a genetic switch in the UV response of pale-yellow colors may play essential roles in establishing the dimorphic female-limited Batesian mimicry.