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. 1975 Jan 17;187(4172):175-6.
doi: 10.1126/science.187.4172.175.

Coevolutionary race continues: butterfly larval adaptation to plant trichomes

B J Rathcke, R W Poole

Coevolutionary race continues: butterfly larval adaptation to plant trichomes

B J Rathcke et al. Science. .

Abstract

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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