Female Meadow Brown butterflies have fewer spots if they develop in warmer weather – so climate change could make them less spotty, new research shows.
University of Exeter scientists found females that developed at 11°C had six spots on average, while those developing 15°C had just three.
The findings challenge long-held scientific views about why these butterflies have varying numbers of spots.
“Meadow Browns always have large ‘eyespots’ on their forewings, probably for startling predators,” said Professor Richard ffrench-Constant, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.
Read more at University of Exeter
Image: A female with three spots on the hindwing. (Credit Professor Richard ffrench-Constant)