Visible beyond Violet: How Butterflies Manage Ultraviolet

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) means ‘beyond violet’ (from Latin ‘ultra’, meaning ‘beyond’), whereby violet is the colour with the highest frequencies in the ‘visible’ light spectrum. By ‘visible’ we mean human vision, but, in comparison to many other organisms, human visual perception is rather limited in terms of the wavelengths it can perceive. Still, this is why communication in the UV spectrum is often called hidden, although it most likely plays an important role in communicating various kinds of information among a wide variety of organisms. Since Silberglied’s revolutionary Communication in the Ultraviolet, comprehensive studies on UV signals in a wide list of genera are lacking. This review investigates the significance of UV reflectance (and UV absorption)—a feature often neglected in intra- and interspecific communication studies—mainly in Lepidoptera. Although the text focuses on various butterfly families, links and connections to other animal groups, such as birds, are also discussed in the context of ecology and the evolution of species. The basic mechanisms of UV colouration and factors shaping the characteristics of UV patterns are also discussed in a broad context of lepidopteran communication.

A Butterfly‐Inspired Multisensory Neuromorphic Platform for Integration of Visual and Chemical Cues

“…Factors such as the spectral composition, intensity of light, and angle of illumination also influence the mate selection. [5][6][7][8] In addition to visual cues, chemical-pheromone released by male butterflies are equally important in butterfly courtship. These chemical signals convey crucial information about species identity, mate quality, and reproductive readiness.…”

Territorial and Courtship Behaviour of Indian Common Crow Butterfly (Euploea core core)

“…The male butterfly will look for butterflies with the correct colour and patterns in wings (Obara & Majerus 2000). Also, males often use ultraviolet reflection patterns on butterfly wings to identify their species (Huq et al 2019, Stella & Kleisner 2022).…”

“…The male butterfly will look for butterflies with the correct colour and patterns in wings (Obara & Majerus 2000). Also, males often use ultraviolet reflection patterns on butterfly wings to identify their species (Huq et al 2019, Stella & Kleisner 2022. Scott (1974) mentioned three methods of mate location that are used by butterflies: patrolling (Alcock & O'Neill 1986), perching (Rutowski 1984) and rarely on long-lasting pheromones (Andersson et al 2007).…”