Evolution of Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity in Male Orange-Tip Butterflies

The evolution of adaptive phenotypic plasticity, whereby organisms respond to cues to produce phenotypes appropriate to their future environment, is not well understood. Male orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines butterflies utilizing the host-plant lady's smock Cardamine pratensis (on which food is limiting) are smaller and emerge earlier than those utilizing garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata. Since small size reduces dispersal rate, this coupling...