AI Article Synopsis
- Insect colors have intrigued biologists for a long time, but we still know little about how these colors develop in the early stages of insects, especially for Drosophila and butterflies.
- Lepidoptera, which includes butterflies and moths, show a wide variety of colors in their eggs and caterpillars, making them ideal for studying how color changes across different life stages and environments.
- This review highlights recent findings on the genetics, developmental processes, and ecological factors that contribute to the diverse colors seen in lepidopteran eggs and caterpillars.
Article Abstract
Insect colors and color patterns have fascinated biologists for centuries. While extensive research has focused on the adult colors of Drosophila and butterflies, our understanding of how colors are generated and diversified in embryonic and larval stages remains limited, especially, the genetics behind the protective coloration of the immobile embryonic and larval stages. Lepidoptera, one of the most widespread and species-rich insect orders, are extremely helpful uncovering those mechanisms due to their remarkable diverse colors in eggs and caterpillars within or among species, and these colors usually are variable in different developmental stages or in response to different environments. Here we review the recent progress on coloration of lepidopteran eggs and caterpillars, focusing on the genetic basis, developmental mechanisms, ecology, and evolution underlying the remarkable color diversity.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gde.2021.04.006 | DOI Listing |
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