Butterflies- Bacteria's Powerful Effect On Mating

The latest issue of Current Biology has some interesting news about butterfly promiscuity. A study of the species Hypolimnas bolina, common in SE Asia revealed that bacteria Wolbachia that kill off male butterflies increases promiscuity in females. As male population fell females mated more frequently. Wolbachia bacteria is passed from mother to son and kill the emryo before it hatches.The study was headed by Dr Sylvain Charlat of the University College London.