A GC-EAD analysis of interspecific pheromone perception in Ithomiine butterflies

Ithomiine butterflies use chemical cues to discriminate between mimics and conspecifics.  However, Ithomiine butterflies are also attracted to heterospecific hair pencils, possibly to facilitate aggregation formation.  I conducted GC-EAD analyses of Tithorea harmonia and Mechanitis polymnia responding to Tithorea harmonia, Mechanitis polymnia, and Greta morgane hair pencil extracts.  All species respond to some components of conspecific and heterospecific pheromones, but no one pheromone component elicits a response in all combinations.  These results support interspecific chemical communication but not an aggregation pheromone.