Evolutionary change in flight-to-light response in urban moths comes with changes in wing morphology.
Biol Lett
; 20(3): 20230486, 2024 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38471566
ABSTRACT
Moths and other insects are attracted by artificial light sources. This flight-to-light behaviour disrupts their general activity focused on finding resources, such as mating partners, and increases predation risk. It thus has substantial fitness costs. In illuminated urban areas, spindle ermine moths Yponomeuta cagnagella were reported to have evolved a reduced flight-to-light response. Yet, the specific mechanism remained unknown, and was hypothesized to involve either changes in visual perception or general flight ability or overall mobility traits. Here, we test whether spindle ermine moths from urban and rural populations-with known differences in flight-to-light responses-differ in flight-related morphological traits. Urban individuals were found to have on average smaller wings than rural moths, which in turn correlated with a lower probability of being attracted to an artificial light source. Our finding supports the reduced mobility hypothesis, which states that reduced mobility in urban areas is associated with specific morphological changes in the flight apparatus.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Mariposas Nocturnas
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Biol Lett
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Bélgica