Butterfly Spots

Some nonpoisonous butterfly species have similar wing patterns to those of noxious species that predators avoid. Three species of passion-vine butterflies, or Heliconius butterflies, have a "supergene" region that is responsible for producing the wing pattern diversity, according to a new study published in the journal PLoS Biology.

The researchers suggest this gene region plays a "jack-of-all-trades flexibility." One such butterfly: Heliconius numata, f. silvana (shown) feeding from a Psiguria flower.

--LiveScience Staff

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Credit: Mathieu Joron/PLoS Biology