6 
Psyche 
[March-June 
and P. neophilus in a seasonal habitat on Trinidad where torrent 
rains may kill off the adults of both sexes. 
Although adult feeding preferences do not appear to be ,a major 
factor in dispersal patterns at Tirimbina, it is interesting to note that 
mimetic association with other species of Parides is most intense at 
nectaries at La Selva (Young, 1971b). At Tirimbina, P. areas 
mylotes is the only species of this genus seen consistently at the study 
site, and flower specificity is not apparent. At La Selva., this butterfly 
as a functional component of Mullerian mimicry complexes exercise 
a strong preference to visit a single species of flower {I~I amelia 
patens ) also visited by other Parides (Young, 1971b) ; judging from 
the amount of time spent daily at Hamelia flowers, there appear to 
be very few or no other preferred adult food sources of Parides at 
La Selva. In the absence of the other Parides at the Tirimbina study 
site, adult P. areas mylotes is found on a variety of flowers, usually 
ranging from red to purple. Thus in the absence of strong selection 
pressures favoring mimetic association, and where this mimicry is 
potentially most effective at a food source, flower specificity may 
break down for Parides in habitats where the species do not co-occur 
on a regular basis. Similar diurnal patterns of visitation at flowers 
between members of a tropical Battus mimicry complex in addition 
to the co-occurrence of several Parides at flowers at La Selva suggest 
strong selection pressures resulting in convergence of feeding habits 
to enhance mimicry (Young, 1971b; 1972b). 
Although courtship activity is generally limited to the sunniest 
hours of the morning (Young, et ah, prep.), adults of both sexes 
and various age-classes (distinguished by the extent of wing tatter- 
ing) generally forage throughout the day, and they are relatively 
unaffected by changes in local weather conditions. Even at a mon- 
tane tropical forest locality (Cuesta Angel) where a cloud forest 
occurs at about IOOO meters elevation, adults are seen foraging 
throughout the day at the bright red flowers of Impatiens sultani 
( Balsaminaceae — “Touch-me-nots”), a small herbaceous plant that 
is imported from Africa and that grows in large numbers. As the 
day becomes less bright in terms of illumination from the sun, these 
flowers become even more conspicuous due to increased contrast of 
the red coloration with the misty air; to the human observer, the 
flowers are more conspicuous, and perhaps the butterflies respond in 
a similar fashion. In both lowland and mountain localities, adult 
activity drops off sharply after about 4:00 P.M. When there is 
short succession of unusually dry days in both lowland and mountain 
