Morphological Phenotypic Plasticity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bluefin
A change in the expressed phenotype (e.g. wing pattern, size, colour..) of a genotype (e.g. butterfly, grasshopper, moth.. etc), when is influenced by the environmental factors (e.g. poor quality or lack of host plant, fluctuation of temperature, photoperiodism - hours of day light and dark period, adult food quality and source..etc), all these factors not only influence the morphology and also their behaviour.
Numerous research reports documented the changes of insects (including butterflies) morphology and behaviour. One of the example is the dry and wet season forms of Precis octavia from Africa. Our local butterflies like Mycalesis mineus, Melanitis leda..etc also show morphological phenotypic plasticity. A recent photo posted by Khew: Lethe minerva is a dry season form.
Teo T P