Butterflies with darker wings have better ability to fly

~SCIENCE NEWS~

Butterflies with darker wings have better ability to fly...!!

Monarch
butterflies who have dark orange
wings fly further than those with light
orange wings, a new study has
revealed.

Previous work has shown that
monarch colouring is intended to
warn their predators about their bitter
taste and toxicity, and that migratory
butterflies are darker coloured than
non-migratory ones, suggesting an association between darker colour
and increased fitness.

The current work, led by Andrew
Davis of the University of Georgia,
provides further evidence for this
association. The researchers tested 121 captive
monarchs in an apparatus called a
tethered flight mill, where they can
quantify butterfly flight speed,
duration, and distance, and found
that those with darker orange wings overall flew longer distances than
those with lighter wings.

"Butterfly researchers don't often
look closely at colour variation
between individuals of the same
species. The results of this project will
pave the way for a new line of inquiry
into the significance of butterfly wing colour," Davis said.