Butterflies come in a dazzling array of colors and patterns, but some species are predominantly black in coloration. Black butterflies can make up a significant portion of the butterfly population in many habitats. While they may not be as showy as their more vibrantly colored relatives, black butterflies are no less interesting or important.
Black coloration can serve several different purposes for butterflies. It may help regulate body temperature, provide camouflage, or warn predators of toxicity. The amount of black on a butterfly’s wings can also play a role in mate selection and territorial displays. So what are some of the most common black butterflies one might encounter? And what evolutionary factors lead to their darkened hues? Read on to learn more about these mysterious beauties of the butterfly world.
Common Mostly Black Butterfly Species
Here are some of the butterflies that have largely or entirely black wings:
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa): One of the most widespread butterflies in North America, the mourning cloak has velvety, purplish-black wings with a distinctive yellow border. When at rest, the wings are held at a characteristic steep angle. These butterflies overwinter as adults, allowing them to be one of the first butterflies seen in early spring.
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax):Closely related to the mourning cloak, this species has black wings with iridescent blue scaling near its body. As the name suggests, red-spotted purples have red spots near the margins of the hindwings. They are found throughout eastern North America.
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor): With its jet black wings and metallic blue scaling, the pipevine swallowtail is unmistakable. It occurs across much of North and Central America wherever its caterpillar host plant, various Aristolochia species, are found. The caterpillars feed on these toxic plants and retain the toxins in their bodies as adults, making them unpalatable to predators.
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes): This common swallowtail species has black wings with striking yellow bands, spots, and tails. The female has more extensive blue scaling. Black swallowtails are found across North America and frequently seen in gardens, where caterpillars feed on plants in the carrot family.
Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa):Named for a suburb of London, this Old World cousin of the mourning cloak occurs across Europe and Asia. Its wings are dark purplish-black with bright yellow borders and small blue spots along the hindwing margins.
Malachite (Siproeta stelenes): This striking tropical species has velvety black wings offset by bright green bands and spots. It is found in Central and South America, where its host plants are in the Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae families.
| Butterfly Species | Range | Wing Color |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning Cloak | North America | Purplish-black with yellow border |
| Red-spotted Purple | Eastern North America | Black with iridescent blue scaling |
| Pipevine Swallowtail | North & Central America | Jet black with metallic blue scaling |
| Black Swallowtail | North America | Black with yellow bands, spots & tails |
| Camberwell Beauty | Europe & Asia | Purplish-black with yellow border & blue spots |
| Malachite | Central & South America | Velvety black with bright green bands & spots |
What Makes a Butterfly Mostly Black?
There are several potential causes for black coloration in butterflies:
Melanin Pigmentation: The most common way butterflies produce black coloration is through melanin, the same pigment that causes darker skin, hair, and eye color in humans. By depositing melanin granules in the wing scales, butterflies can create black patterning. The amount of melanin deposited determines the intensity of the black.
Structural Coloration: Some black butterflies rely on nanostructures in the wing scales to absorb most visible wavelengths of light. These microscopic structures create a velvety black appearance without melanin pigmentation. The pipevine swallowtail utilizes this mechanism.
Genetic Mutations: Random mutations in genes controlling wing scale development can sometimes generate black coloration. Many black morphs, forms, and aberrations occasionally seen in butterfly populations are caused by such mutations.
Warning Coloration: As seen in the pipevine swallowtail, extensive black coloration can serve as a warning signal to predators that a butterfly is toxic or unpalatable. This evolutionarily selected trait advertises its defense.
Thermoregulation: The dark coloration of black butterfly wings allows them to absorb solar radiation for basking and raising their body temperature. This is an adaptive advantage in cooler climates.
Functions of Black Coloration
The predominantly black wings seen in some butterflies serve a variety of different functions:
Thermoregulation – By absorbing solar radiation, black wings help butterflies raise their body temperature so they can fly even in cooler conditions. This allows them to take flight earlier in the day and extend their activity period.
Camouflage – Some black butterflies blend into their surroundings, avoiding detection by predators. Black provides concealment against dark backgrounds like tree bark or soil.
Warning Coloration – Bright warning colors are not the only way to signal toxicity. The deep black of some species may warn predators of distastefulness or toxicity.
Mate Selection – The extent of black patterns differs between sexes in some species, allowing butterflies to identify suitable mates. Black scales may also be used for scent dispersal.
Territorial Defense – Dark coloration is often used for species recognition and to deter intruders. Black patterns may help butterflies distinguish rivals from their own kind.
Mimicry – Some harmless species mimic the black coloration of distasteful butterflies to fool predators into avoiding them. This Batesian mimicry provides protection.
Geographic Variation
Black coloration in butterflies often varies significantly across the geographic range of a species. Some examples of this regional variation include:
– Western North American populations of mourning cloaks tend to have darker coloration than their eastern counterparts.
– Southern pipevine swallowtails are darker overall than those in the northern parts of the range.
– High elevation populations of black swallowtails have reduced dark scaling compared to lowland forms.
– Camberwell beauties found on the Iberian Peninsula have creamy white spots on the hindwings that are usually absent in other regions.
– Malachites in drier, more open habitats exhibit darker black coloration than those in wetter forest environments.
Such geographic differences in melanin pigmentation likely reflect local adaptations to environmental conditions, including background coloration, ambient temperatures, and predation pressures. Darker individuals tend to occur where black provides an adaptive advantage.
Conclusion
While black may be an uncommon butterfly coloration compared to more lively hues of orange, yellow, or blue, black species hold a special place in the landscape. Their dark wings speak to the many ways butterflies have adapted over time, using black for camouflage, warning, communication, and regulation of body functions. Even in the bright world of butterfly colors, there is elegance, mystery, and beauty to be found in nature’s blackest butterflies. So keep an eye out for these darker denizens, whose black wings shimmer in the light.
