Organism
Cabbage Butterflies
TL;DR
Specialist herbivores that evolved detoxification mechanisms for glucosinolates produced by Brassicaceae plants.
Specialist herbivores that evolved detoxification mechanisms for glucosinolates produced by Brassicaceae plants. Their adaptation to plant defenses allowed them to radiate onto newly defended plants, triggering further plant diversification in the escape-and-radiate cycle.
Notable Traits of Cabbage Butterflies
- Glucosinolate detoxification
- Specialist herbivores
- Co-diversification with host plants