SCIENCE IN PICS: Toxic Tiger Mimic Lays Low

(Stephanie Lam/The Epoch Times)

Tithorea harmonia, more commonly known as the tiger-mimic butterfly for its black and orange wing pattern, can be found in Central and South America in rainforests and sub-tropical deciduous forests. They possess toxic chemicals that deter predators.

At the end of the dry season the butterflies are most susceptible to predators as they tend to group in large numbers in damp, shady gullies. Their tiger-like wing pattern is useful here in deterring predators through its mimicry of other toxic tiger-striped butterflies. This means that a predator, having eaten a distasteful tiger butterfly, will likely leave alone all species of butterfly that share a similar tiger pattern.

Tithorea harmonia often lay low in obscure shady spaces on sunny days, but during darker and cloudier conditions they can be seen gently flying in groups among low foliage. On rainy days they sit near the rootlets of small palms.

The male butterflies tend to hover around bird droppings to gather chemicals that perform multiple vital functions, while females are often spotted feeding on flower nectar. The larvae feed on the toxic plant Prestonia acutifolia, which is what gives the butterflies their toxicity.

This is not the only species that has a tiger pattern. Other species sharing this pattern include the toxic Melinaea marsaeus, Forbestra equicola and Lycorea pasinuntia, and other non-toxic species. The tiger-pattern species generally possess elongated wings and creamy-colored antennae, and tend to fan their wings as though to warn other predators of their toxicity.