Duration of Female Availability and Its Effect on Butterfly Mating Systems

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Abstract
A major link between larval ecology and mating systems in butterflies is the environment in which larvae hatch. It determines when a female should lay her eggs, and therefore when she will be receptive to mating. The fitness of males is determined chiefly by access to fertilizable females, and therefore is greatly affected by the reproductive schedules of females. We show how female availability may influence and interact with many aspects of butterfly mating systems.