[Leps-l] [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Re: looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

Sat Jul 9 12:20:13 EDT 2022

Roger,

             Yes, I agree it is quite possible that someone has done some work on this.  The problem may be that, if the findings were that the butterflies show no recognition of individual human beings, the results were never published.  I, and many others, might find it interesting if and only if the butterflies DID show recognition of individuals, which is why, if virtually no such literature exists, then every study that has been done has shown no recognition of individuals.

            Again, it would seem possible only in species that set up somewhat longer lasting territories, where the butterflies were likely to encounter the same individuals on a regular basis.  For species that live a very short time as adults, there would be no reason to evolve this behavior, and even in those species that do live longer, recognizing individuals of other species would have to be something meaningful in the evolution of the species of butterfly.

James

James K. Adams
Professor of Biology, Dalton State College
706-272-4427; 678-767-5938
visit the Georgia Lepidoptera website at
       www.galeps.org/<http://www.galeps.org/>
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From: Leps-l <leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Roger Kuhlman <rkuhlman at hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2022 8:05 AM
To: Bill Cornelius <billcor at mcn.org>; Leps List <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Re: [Leps-l] looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

A researcher of Butterfly behavior could well find that butterflies show no evidence for long-lasting memory of Individuals. That is not impossible and I would be surprised if it has not already been done.

Roger Kuhlman
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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From: Leps-l <leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Bill Cornelius <billcor at mcn.org>
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 9:10 PM
To: John Shuey <jshuey at TNC.ORG>; Leps list <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Leps-l] looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

Hi John:

That's an interesting article. Do you know of anything similar concerning butterflies? I have a bet with a state parks ranger, but she has to prove butterflies don't remember individuals. I'm pretty sure that's an impossible proof to begin with but I still need to show something besides my own observation & opinion or she can claim default.

Bill :)

On Jul 8, 2022, at 4:46 PM, John Shuey <jshuey at TNC.ORG<mailto:jshuey at TNC.ORG>> wrote:

Although everyone knows that birds are superior beings, it surprised me that Common Terns could recognize a threat arriving in an orange VW van from one year to the next and fly out to attack and stain the vehicle before the person even got out, having not seen the vehicle or person for 10 months.

Crows are known to recognize faces that do evil to them.   See -https://www.npr.org/2019/09/13/760666490/crows-are-they-scary-or-just-scary-smart<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2019%2F09%2F13%2F760666490%2Fcrows-are-they-scary-or-just-scary-smart&data=05%7C01%7Cjadams%40daltonstate.edu%7C48af52a1aa754641878608da61a34984%7Cb7e81e5d72424dff8f1e47d691148e41%7C0%7C1%7C637929651196577283%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xVKFOLMAfS%2FRjEDjW9IAxwwn9aXjgd6EWhkbfkQCjt0%3D&reserved=0>

john

From: Leps-l <leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of Michael Gochfeld
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 5:14 PM
To: Bill Cornelius <billcor at mcn.org<mailto:billcor at mcn.org>>; Leps list <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Leps-l] looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

It shouldn't be a surprise that an insect can recognized a food-giver or a threat.  Whether and how they classify these and to what extent they can distinguish individuals can be tested.  How long they "remember" ----not sure.  Whether they recognize visually or olfactory, and whether it is the person or the body language would be good to study.

On a different note:

Although everyone knows that birds are superior beings, it surprised me that Common Terns could recognize a threat arriving in an orange VW van from one year to the next and fly out to attack and stain the vehicle before the person even got out, having not seen the vehicle or person for 10 months.

MIKE GOCHFELD

________________________________
From: Leps-l <leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:leps-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> on behalf of Bill Cornelius <billcor at mcn.org<mailto:billcor at mcn.org>>
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2022 12:45 AM
To: Leps list <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>>
Subject: [Leps-l] looking for info about butterfly recognition of individual humans

Hi List:

I read some time ago, before fact checking was an industry, that some reared Heliconius charithonia will recognize individual people that have acted threateningly or non threateningly towards them and react correspondingly days or weeks later. Can anyone send me any info on that? My own experience with Polygonias indicates they do have that capability. I'm looking for support but any info will do.

thanks
Bill Cornelius
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