Published Paper Details:

There has been a significant revival of interest in the role of ecological adaptation as a primary driver of speciation. In mimetic butterflies, wing patterns function as both defensive signals to predators and essential indicators for mate selection, thereby promoting significant reproductive isolation among diverging populations. This study, primarily employing secondary data and established ecological frameworks, investigates the mimetic relationships of butterfly fauna prevalent in West Bengal, including the Papilio and Danaidae complexes. A review of the current literature, utilizing the sympatric interactions of Heliconius species as a model system, indicates that habitat isolation and color-pattern preference are the primary factors influencing the emergence of new species. The extraordinary genetic correlation between loci governing mate preference and wing pigmentation indicates that divergence frequently transpires in sympatry or as a direct consequence of sexual selection. Consequently, color pattern exemplifies an ecological trait that facilitates speciation via pleiotropic influences on mate selection. Phylogenetic evidence shows that color pattern is one of several things that cause mimetic butterflies to evolve into different species. However, its most important role is in creating premating isolation. This paper concludes that comprehending these visual and genetic mechanisms is essential for the preservation of lepidopteran biodiversity amid the evolving ecological landscapes of West Bengal.