The critical period for wing pattern induction in the polyphenic tropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana (Satyrinae)

Adults of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana express striking phenotypic plasticity. A wet season form has conspicuous marginal eyespots and a medial pale band which are much reduced in the dry season form. These alternative forms are produced after rearing at high or low temperatures, respectively. We used 'window' experiments involving switching of larvae and pupae between high and low temperatures at different stages during development to examine the timing of sensitivity to environmental temperature. The final, fifth larval instar is shown to be especially sensitive. The fourth larval instar and the very early pupal period are also sensitive. It is argued that an increasing sensitivity during growth is ecologically adaptive since the late larval environment will be the most accurate predictor for the adult environment in which the wing phenotype is subject to selection. The period of sensitivity is not as short as a few days. This may minimize the chance of any 'mistakes in matching the adult phenotype to the season because of short-term environmental fluctuations during the larval period. The observed sensitivity occurs as late as possible during growth since the wing pattern is developmentally determined at the end of the early part of the pupal stage. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.