Butterfly Wing Translucence Enables Enhanced Visual Signaling

Simple Summary The commonly held view on the coloration of butterfly wings is that the bright colors of the dorsal wing sides are used for display, while the much duller ventral wing sides provide camouflage, specifically when the butterflies are resting. Here, we show that the wings of many butterfly species are so transparent that the light transmitted by the wings, especially during flight, will contribute to butterflies' visibility. The light reflected by the dorsal side of butterfly wings often functions as a signal for, e.g., mate choice, thermoregulation, and/or predator deterrence, while the ventral wing reflections are generally used for crypsis and camouflage. Here, we propose that transmitted light can also have an important role in visual signaling because, in many butterfly species, the dorsal and ventral wing sides are similarly patterned and locally more or less translucent. Extreme examples are the Japanese yellow swallowtail (Papilio xuthus Linnaeus, 1758) and the Yellow glassy tiger (Parantica aspasia Fabricius, 1787). Their wings exhibit a similar color pattern in reflected and transmitted light, which allows enhanced visual signaling, especially in flight. Contrasting cases in which the coloration and patterning of dorsal and ventral wings strongly differ are the papilionid Papilio nireus Linnaeus, 1758, and the pierid Delias nigrina Fabricius, 1775. The wings observed in reflected or transmitted light then show very different color patterns. Wing translucence thus will strongly affect a butterfly's visual signal.

Automated summary

Previously, it was believed that the coloration of butterfly wings was related to display and camouflage during resting. However, the high translucence of butterfly wings allows light to pass through, increasing their visibility during flight. The reflected light on the upper side of the wings is used for signal transmission, while the lower side is used for camouflage. Therefore, transmitted light also plays an important role in butterfly's visual signaling.