Unpalatability as a Defense Strategy Ofeuphydryas Phaeton(lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

The use of unpalatability as a defense strategy of butterflies has been studied since the time of Bates (1862).Most studies have focused primarily on the role of unpalatability in mimicry systems, rather than on the defensive function of unpalatability itself.Unpalatable butterflies have been found primarily in five major groups: (1) the tribe Troidini of the family Papilionidae, whose members feed on plants in the Aristolociaceae, and the following subfamilies of the Nymphalidae:(2) the Danainae, feeding on milkweeds (Asclepiadaceae); (3) the Ithomiinae, which feed on solanaceous plants; (4) the Acraeinae and (5) the Heliconiinae, both of which feed on plants in the family Passifloraceae.Some pierids (Pieridae) are unpalatable as well (Finn, 1895, 1897a, 1897b; Swynnerton, 1919; Pough and Brower, 1977), but unpalatability does not seem to be common in this group.Research on unpalatable North American butterflies has considered primarily three species: the Monarch, Danaus plex- ippus (Danainae), and the Queen, Danaus gilippus (Danainae), both feeding on milkweeds which contain cardiac glycosides (