Tag

Heliconius

All articles tagged with #heliconius

biology2 years ago•3 min saved

Unveiling the Colorful World of Butterflies: Biologists' Discovery

Biologists at the University of California, Irvine have discovered that sexually dimorphic vision in butterflies, where females perceive ultraviolet color while males see light and dark, is caused by a vision gene's jump onto a sex chromosome. This finding, observed in the Heliconius butterfly genus, is the first known instance of this genetic change causing sexually dimorphic vision. The study highlights the complexities of genetic sequencing and the importance of manual validation. The vision difference may explain why females and males of some butterfly species feed on different types of flowers.

via Phys.org|

#biology #butterfly #genetics

science2 years ago•5 min saved

"Fluttering Minds: How Butterflies Master Spatial Learning"

Researchers have discovered that Heliconius butterflies exhibit spatial learning, providing the first experimental evidence of such abilities in any butterfly or moth species. These butterflies can learn and memorize spatial information on large scales, which is important for their foraging behavior known as traplining. The study suggests that complex learning skills, including the use of spatial information, may be more common in insects than previously recognized. The findings highlight the possibility of widespread cognitive abilities in insects and open up avenues for further research on the mechanisms of navigation in butterflies.

via Neuroscience News|

#butterflies #heliconius #insects

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Butterflies' Remarkable Spatial Memory Unveiled

A new study has found that Heliconius butterflies are capable of spatial learning, providing the first experimental evidence of this ability in any butterfly or moth species. The research suggests that complex learning skills, such as the use of spatial information, may be more common in insects than previously thought. The study conducted spatial learning experiments at different scales and plans to further investigate the cognitive abilities and navigation mechanisms of Heliconius butterflies.

via Phys.org|

#butterflies #heliconius #insects