Structural Variations in Wing Patterning of Seasonal Polyphenic Melanitis leda (Satyrinae)

Abstract

Seasonal polyphenism is a common phenomenon observed among members of the Lepidopteran subfamily Satyrinae. Melanitis leda, being a member of that subfamily, exhibits seasonal variation in terms of wing patterning. In butterflies, wing patterning is due to the nanostructural architecture of the scales, which reflects and refracts incident light, with or without the combination of pigments. The current scanning electron, fluorescence and optical microscope study divulge fine structural and signal changes that occur with different season in the scales of M. leda and give rise to the different wing pattern in butterfly. The structural and consequent signal changes are likely to be correlated with behavioural processes such as mate selection and escape from predation.