Premium
Directional Preferences in the Autumn Migration of the Red Admiral ( Vanessa atalanta)
Author(s) -
Benvenuti Silvano,
Dall'Antonia Paolo,
IoalÈ Paolo
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1996.tb01116.x
Subject(s) - peninsula , geography , orientation (vector space) , winter season , meteorology , geology , climatology , archaeology , mathematics , geometry
The paper describes the orientation performance of the red admiral in the course of its migratory movements through the Italian peninsula, a region where systematic studies of this butterfly species have not been carried out before. Our results show that red admirals exhibit seasonal bidirectional migratory movements between breeding and wintering grounds. Orientation performances, directional preferences in the autumn and spring were recorded and discussed; in addition, we have documented a progressive eastward shift of the main flight direction, during the autumn migratory season, which appears to be related to air temperature. Speculative explanations for this shift of flight direction, which has never been recorded before, are given.