Experimental locations
Experiments were conducted at three locations, with two replicate sites
at each location. At all sites, Heliconius butterflies,
particularly the H. doris co-mimics H. erato and H. sara ,
are some of the most abundant butterflies present. In addition, H.
doris has been observed at each of the three locations. Therefore, the
local predators should be well-trained for avoiding the local morphs. In
Panama we conducted the experiments at two sites along Pipeline Rd. near
Gamboa Panama (9.12542, -79.71459). In Panama, red (broad rays) and blueH. doris morphs are present, as well as co-mimics for red and
blue morphs. In French Guiana, experiments were conducted in two
locations, inland (4.57768, -52.39848) and coastal (4.87316, -52.26627),
with two replicate sites at each location. At the interior French Guiana
sites both the red (narrow rays), and blue H. doris morphs are
present, as well as red and blue co-mimics. At the coastal sites, both
the red (narrow rays) and blue H. doris morphs are present, but
only co-mimics of the blue morph are present. In French Guiana, at
around 20km inland there is a sharp transition in the co-mimic H.
erato color patterns, with solid black hindwings (non-mimetic toH. doris ) along the coast and red rayed morphs in the interior
(mimetic to H. doris ).
(Blum, 2008). Based on
personal observations and available collections, Heliconius with
red ray morphs appear to be largely absent from the coastal areas,
therefore predators in the coastal sites have likely had more training
to avoid blue, than red warning color morphs.