Gregarious Oviposition and Clutch Size Adjustment by a Heliconius Butterfly1

2003/12/01 by Robert D. Reed
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Avian clutch size #Biology #Butterfly #Ecology #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Heliconius #Insect-Plant Interactions and Control #Plant and animal studies #Reproduction #Zoology

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2003.tb00613.x

openalex publication_date 2003/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

ABSTRACT Female Heliconius hewitsoni butterflies were found to aggregate during oviposition, producing multi‐parent egg clutches. This behavior occurred when host plants were locally plentiful, indicating that females chose to oviposit gregariously. Collective clutch size correlated with host growth rate and with the number of females contributing to a clutch. Eggs did not positively bias host plant growth. Collective clutch size adjustment may represent a mechanism for facilitating larval aggregation while reducing intraspecific competition.

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