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Articles tagged Ecology
(12 results)

  • Different color pattern forms of Heliconius erato, Image credit: Riccardo Papa

    The molecules behind mimicry

    The vibrant passion-vine butterfly species Heliconius erato doesn’t taste as good as it looks. The flesh of this South and Central American species accumulates toxic compounds to discourage would-be predators, who quickly learn to associate the butterflies’ unpleasant taste with their bold red warning colors and patterns. But H. erato isn’t the only species that…