Melanism in conspicuous Lepidoptera

Abstract In the previous three chapters, the majority of Lepidoptera discussed have relied on some form of camouflage to avoid predation, and the melanic forms that they exhibit have often evolved to maximise predator avoidance, either when at rest, or, in some instances, when in flight. However, many organisms have evolved conenrty; to mimic thus protected species; or to attract mates or deter rivals. Melanism in conspicuous species occurs in a wide range of taxa, some of which have already been discussed in Chapter 2. However, in this chapter I will again confine myself to the Lepidoptera, for the main principles involved in the evolution of melanism in brightly coloured species can all be related using examples from this order. I will continue this theme in Chapter 9, in which I will discuss melanism in a brightly coloured family of beetles, the ladybirds, in which warning coloration, mimicry, sexual selection, and other factors, such as thermal melanism, may all have an effect on the evolution and maintenance of melanism, sometimes within a single species.