Data from: Mimetic females do not bear reproductive costs: Challenging the sexual selection hypothesis in female-limited mimetic polymorphism in butterflies
Data files
Sep 10, 2025 version files 1.11 GB
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Papilio_polytes_Brightness_value_of_emerged_females.csv
3.52 KB
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Papilio_polytes_forewing_images.zip
1.11 GB
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Papilio_polytes_Sampling_data.csv
2.26 KB
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Papilio_polytes_Spermatophore_count.csv
18.12 KB
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README.md
2.67 KB
Abstract
Batesian mimicry has been regarded as classical evidence of adaptation by natural selection, in which a palatable species avoids predation by resembling unpalatable species. In some butterfly species, Batesian mimicry is female-limited and mimetic females coexist with male-like (nonmimetic) females. Why do nonmimetic females continue to exist despite the possible differential predation pressure? One possible hypothesis is a trade-off between the anti-predatory defense and mating success. Specifically, mimetic females may be less attractive to conspecific males as they look like heterospecific butterflies. However, empirical studies based on behavioural data have shown mixed results. Here, we directly investigated female mating frequency by counting spermatophores and compared it between mimetic and nonmimetic females in a Batesian mimetic butterfly, Papilio polytes. These are the datasets of field sampling, spermatophore counts, wing brightness, and forewing images of female P. polytes.
Dataset DOI: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dv41ns281
Description of the data and file structure
Spermatophore counts and forewing brightness values of Papilio polytes females collected from four different islands. Brightness values represent the relative age of adult butterflies. We also included sampling data and forewing brightness values of newly emerged, lab-reared females.
Files and variables
File: Papilio_polytes_Sampling_data.csv
Description: Sampling data of female Papilio polytes on four islands in Ryukyus, Japan.
variables: "Start" and "End" represent the time when samplings are begun or ended, respectively. "Duration" represents how long each sampling was conducted. "Mimetic ratio" is calculated with "'Mimtetic female (the number of mimetic females)'/ 'Total female (the number of nonmimetic females and mimetic females)'." NA indicates no data.
File: Papilio_polytes_Spermatophore_count.csv
Description: Spermatophore counts and forewing brightness values of Papilio polytes females. Brightness values represent the mean pixel brightness (0–255) within the defined forewing region.
variables: "Date" and "Island" are the data which represent when and where the specific samples were collected. "Morph" represents the two morphs of collected females, nonmimetic or mimetic. "Spermatophore count" and "Brightness value" represent spermatophore counts and forewing brightness values of Papilio polytes females collected in the field.
File: Papilio_polytes_Brightness_value_of_emerged_females.csv
Description: Forewing brightness values of newly emerged, lab-reared females.
variables: "Brightness value" represents forewing brightness values of newly emerged, lab-reared females.
File: Papilio_polytes_forewing_images.zip
Description: JPG.forewing images of wild and newly emereged individuals of Papilio polytes. Once the zip folder are opened, you can see the folder "Papilio_polytes_forewing_images." This includes 4 different folders (mimetic_forewing, mimetic_forewing_emerged, nonmimetic_forewing, and nonmimetic_forewing_emerged). Each of them contains JPG. images of forewings of female butterflies. "mimetic_forewing" and "nonmimetic_forewing" have forewing images of wild mimetic and nonmimetic females, while "mimetic_forewing_emerged" and "nonmimetic_forewing_emerged" have forewing images of newly emerged females reared in the lab, respectively.