Behavioural mimicry in flight path of Batesian intraspecific polymorphic butterfly Papilio polytes

Batesian mimics that show similar coloration to unpalatable models gain a fitness advantage of reduced predation. Beyond physical similarity, mimics often exhibit behaviour similar to their models, further enhancing their protection against predation by mimicking not only the model's physical appearance but also activity. In butterflies, there is a strong correlation between palatability and flight velocity, but there is only weak correlation between palatability and flight path. Little is known about how Batesian mimics fly. Here, we explored the flight behaviour of four butterfly species/morphs: unpalatable model Pachliopta aristolochiae, mimetic and non-mimetic females of female-limited mimic Papilio polytes, and palatable control Papilio xuthus. We demonstrated that the directional change (DC) generated by wingbeats and the standard deviation of directional change (SDDC) of mimetic females and their models were smaller than those of non-mimetic females and palatable controls. Furthe...贝茨拟态者（Batesian mimic）若呈现与不可食模型（unpalatable model）相似的体色，可获得因被捕食风险降低而带来的适合度优势（fitness advantage）。除形态相似性外，拟态者通常还会展现出与模型相仿的行为模式，通过同时模拟模型的外形与活动节律，进一步强化自身的反捕食保护能力。在蝶类类群中，适口性（palatability）与飞行速度（flight velocity）存在显著相关性，但与飞行路径（flight path）的相关性却较为微弱。目前学界对贝茨拟态者的飞行行为仍缺乏深入了解。本研究针对4种蝴蝶类群/形态展开飞行行为探究：不可食模型红珠凤蝶（Pachliopta aristolochiae）、雌性限制型拟态玉带凤蝶（Papilio polytes）的拟态型与非拟态型雌蝶，以及作为适口性对照的柑橘凤蝶（Papilio xuthus）。研究证实，拟态雌蝶及其模型的振翅诱发方向变化量（directional change, DC）与方向变化量标准差（standard deviation of directional change, SDDC），均小于非拟态雌蝶与适口性对照种群。进一步……