Aggressiveness in leps

[John Acorn]

Rhopalocerophiles,

My understanding of agressiveness in butterflies is that it was originally
thought to be territorial defense of a specific area by males.  I think it
was Jim Scott who suggested that it was better understood as pursuit of
potential mates, in which the males engaging in the behaviour were not
defending a resource against other butterflies.  As well, it is my
understanding that behavioural ecologists preferred the term "agonistic" to
"aggressive" since it implies less about the motives of the animal.  Hope
this helps the discussion.

John Acorn
Edmonton, Canada
janature at compusmart.ab.ca