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Limenitis
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Bruce King
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Mar 20, 2006 09:42 PST
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I've been wondering this for years.
At one time, the Viceroy and Monarch was considered a classic example
of Batesian mimicry. Since, it has been discovered that it is a case
of Mullerian mimicry.
The Red-Spotted Purple (a close relative of the Viceroy - in fact, they
sometimes hybridize) is considered a mimic of the Pipevine Swallowtail.
Yet the Purple is common in New England, while the Swallowtail is
rare. Is it possible that this mimicry might also be Mullerian,
considering the Purple's close genetic tie to the Viceroy?
-bruce
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