Butterflies - Ecology and evolution taking flight PDF

One proposed explanation is that these amino acids promote butterfly fitness, although the evidence has been equivocal. In a new study, Mevi-Schütz and Erhardt showed that nectar amino acids enhanced fecundity in the butterfly Araschnia levana, but only when the larval diet was poor. Their results support the hypothesis that butterflies are agents of selection for higher nectar amino acid Heliconius charithonia - Wikipedia