Behavioral and ecological interactions of foraging mice (Peromyscus melanotis) with overwintering monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in Mexico

• Published in: Oecologia Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 222 - 227
• Main Authors: Glendinning, J.I, Mejia, A.A, Brower, L.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.1988
• Subjects: Danaus; feeding behavior; mice; predation; Mexico; Peromyscus melanotis; Selective feeding behavior; Insectivory; Defensrve crawling behavior in butterflies; Overwintering Danaus plexippus

Mice (Peromyscus melanotis) immigrate extensively to overwintering colonies of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in México. There they feed on both live and dead butterflies that accumulate on the ground and in low vegetation. Through a series of feeding experiments, we examined the potential i...