Genetic and phenotypic variation in wood tiger moths from the Caucasus: insights into male warning color variation

Title (eng)
Genetic and phenotypic variation in wood tiger moths from the Caucasus: insights into male warning color variation
Author
Juan A. Galarza
Ecology and Genetics Research Unit University of Oulu Oulu Finland
Author
Cristina Ottocento
Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
Author
Bibiana Rojas
Author
Janne K. Valkonen
Department of Biological and Environmental Science University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Finland
Author
Tamar Chunashvili
Invertebrate Research Center, Tetritsklebi Telavi Georgia
Author
Tõnis Tasane
Fauna NPO Harju maakond Estonia
Author
Chris D. Jiggins
Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge United Kingdom
Author
Johanna Mappes
Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
Author
Ossi Nokelainen
Author
Melanie N. Brien
Remark (eng)
Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issue
Abstract (eng)
Coloration plays a pivotal role in shaping how species adapt to their environment, influencing their interactions with predators, prey, and potential mates. The aposematic wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis) is sexually dimorphic. Males are polymorphic in their hindwing coloration across the Holarctic distribution range, while females exhibit continuous variation in their coloration. In the Caucasus region, a striking exception can be found, where both sexes exhibit a continuous orange-red hindwing coloration. Yet, it remains uncertain whether significant color variations exist within the spectrum of male orange-red coloration and whether these differences can be associated with genetic structure or other phenotypic traits such as size. Using population genetics and image analyses methods, we find that males from the Lesser Caucasus have predominantly large red wings and constitute mostly a single genetic population. Males from the Greater Caucasus, in contrast, appear genetically isolated and are relatively small with orange hindwings. We discuss these findings in the context of both contemporary and historical environmental factors that may have influenced male color variation in the region.
Keywords (eng)
ArctiinaeColor PolymorphismGenetic StructureGeorgiaLepidopteraMultispectral Imaging
Type (eng)
journal article
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4771
DOI
10.1111/1744-7917.70101
Is in series
Title (deu)
Insect Science
ISSN
1672-9609
Issued
2025
Number of pages
13
Publication
Wiley
Version type (eng)
version of record (published version)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
open access
License
CC BY 4.0 International
Rights statement (eng)
© 2025 The Author(s)