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Science 17 January 1975:
Vol. 187. no. 4172, pp. 175 - 176
DOI: 10.1126/science.187.4172.175
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Articles

Coevolutionary Race Continues: Butterfly Larval Adaptation to Plant Trichomes

Beverly J. Rathcke 1 and Robert W. Poole 1

1 Section of Population Biology and Genetics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912

Plant trichomes can act as efjective defenses against herbivores, but at least one species of ithomiid butterfly, Mechanitis isthmia, has evolved a unique adaptation for avoiding the trichomes on its spiny Solanum hosts. The larvae are gregarious all together they spin a fine silk scaffolding over the tops of the spines on which they can crawl and feed in safety.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)