Battus philenor
Pipevine Swallowtail
Limenitis arthemis astyanax
Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis arthemis
White Admiral
The images show the pipevine swallowtail butterfly (left) and two forms of the species
Limenitis arthemis. Scientists think that the red-spotted purple form of L. arthemis
is a Batesian mimic of the poisonous pipevine swallowtail. In Batesian mimicry, a
nonpoisonous species resembles a poisonous model species. This adaptation causes
predators to c
to confuse the mimic with the model, and avoid it.
Scientists can create lifelike models of butterflies that can be placed in the butterflies'
natural settings and periodically checked for signs of damage from predators such as
birds.
A Identify at least two characteristics of a good hypothesis.