Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady Butterfly)

General information

The painted lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui, is a model to study wing patterning and other topics. Vanesa cardui are members of the Lepidoptera, a large and diverse order of insects characterized in part by the presence of scale covered wings. Caterpillars are commercially available throughout the year (NatureGifts Caterpillar Refill Kit), and the entire life cycle can be completed in captivity. Newly laid eggs hatch and develop to adulthood in 5 weeks. This species is also native to New England, so (while we will not plan to release any animals) there is limited ecological risk from accidental release. Importantly, a transcriptome is available for this species and a web portal has been constructed for BLAST search of those sequences. The development of butterfly wings has also been studied in some detail.

The Importance of Observation in Science

With respect to scientific research, observation refers to a systematic data collection approach that is dependent on our five senses. Observation plays a pivitol role in the scientific method, enabling one to identify questions as well as to form and explore hypotheses. While numerous tools and techniques have been developed to amplify/heighten our senses and thus increase their resolving power (including microscopes, computational tools, etc.), the power of these remains limited by the users ability and desire to apply, monitor, record and interpret the data aquired. Therefore, it is critical that we as scientists work to develop these skills that are so critical to our research.

Anatomy of a Butterfly

Butterflys, have a three-segmented body comprised of a head, thorax and abdomen. A pair of antennae positioned above the compound eyes protrude from the head. Below the eyes is the mouth or proboscis. Attached to the thorax are three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings (a pair of forewings and a pair of hindwings). Behind the thorax is the abdomen, which contains vital organs including the heart and reproductive organs.

https://www.anatomynote.com/animal-anatomy/worms-and-insect/butterfly/butterfly-gross-anatomy/

Making Observations

Making good observations takes practice!
In this class we will be focusing on pigmentation. Today in lab we will practice observing the normal pigmentation pattern of the model organism we will be using throughout this course, Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady Butterfly).

Obtain a pinned Vanessa cardui specimen.
- Specimens are fragile! Be sure to handle the specimen as little as possible.
Take a few minutes to examine and observe the anatomy of your butterfly.
- Identify the Dorsal and Ventral sides of the specimen.
a. Take a picture of the Dorsal and Ventral sides of your specimen using your cell phone camera. Take your time and be sure to capture an accurate representation of the pigmentation pattern.
b. Use the blank schematics below to record the pigmentation pattern for the Dorsal and Ventral sides. Take your time! You need not be an artist but your drawing should be as accurate as possible capturing important details including differences in pigmentation,the relative size, shape and distribution of various pigmented areas of the wing.

c. Make written notes on your observations of the pigmentation pattern for the Dorsal and Ventral sides of your butterfly specimen. These notes should include observations that may not be fully captured/apparent in your drawings.

Consider the following…

What do you predict might happen to the pigmentation pattern for the Dorsal and Ventral sides of your butterfly specimen if it could not produce black pigment?

Draw you the pattern you predict you might see in this hypothetical scenario?

What do you predict might happen to the pigmentation pattern for the Dorsal and Ventral sides of your butterfly specimen if it could not produce yellow pigment?

Draw you the pattern you predict you might see in this hypothetical scenario?

When you are done, compare your predictions with one of your classmates. Do your predictions match? If not, why…