The influence of color stimuli on visually controlled behavior inAglais urticae L. andPararge aegeria L. (Lepidoptera)

Summary

In spontaneous-choice experiments on the butterfliesAglais urticae L. (Nymphalidae) andPararge aegeria L. (Satyridae) the spectral effectiveness and spectral sensitivity of various behaviors were investigated and compared.

Pilot experiments with colored PVC films showed indications of an intensity dependence of the feeding reaction inP. aegeria. Moreover, they revealed a color discrimination independent of this intensity discrimination:P. aegeria distinguishes red from grey shades as well as from black and white (Fig. 3).

According to subsequent spontaneous-choice experiments using monochromatic light stimuli, the various visually controlled functional categories of behavior can be assigned to the following spectral regions: 1. The open-space reaction corresponds to the UV and violet region, ca. 320–420 nm, inP. aegeria (Figs. 4, 7). 2. The feeding reaction corresponds to the blue region, ca. 420–500 nm, inA. urticae (Fig. 1) andP. aegeria (Fig. 4), and the yellow region, ca. 550–590 nm, inA. urticae (Fig. 1) and the orange-red region, ca. 570–670 nm, inP. aegeria (Fig. 4).

In these experiments with monochromatic light stimuli the intensity dependence of the reactions is also obvious (Figs. 2, 5, 6).

The open-space reaction is elicited inP. aegeria by white light dependent on its UV content (Fig. 8). This is also valid for the feeding reaction inP. aegeria (Fig. 5b). To elicit this reaction it was necessary to offer light stimuli simultaneously with the odour stimulus of honey water. As the latter was of the same quality in combination with all light stimuli the results can be attributed definitely to the different effectiveness of the various light stimuli.

Pure wavelength-specific behavior can be ruled out inA. urticae andP. aegeria. Wavelength-specific behavior and color vision are probably present simultaneously.