Predictors of Wing Attacks by Birds Across Australian Butterflies

Predation pressure is a key selective force that shapes anti-predatory traits in prey. The pressure exerted by predation can vary across biomes and different prey communities and depends on prey characteristics, such as prey size and sex. Here, the variation in predation pressure on Australian butterflies was assessed using wing damage caused by avian attacks in over 2310 individuals from five butterfly families. Temperate butterflies were less likely to receive avian attacks compared to subtropical and tropical butterflies. Male butterflies were predicted to suffer more avian attacks than females; however, our results indicated that females were more at risk. We did not find evidence of butterfly size influencing the attack likelihood. According to the regression model, Nymphalids (Browns) were more likely to receive avian attacks than Hesperiids (Skippers). The results provide interesting insights into predator-prey interactions and the factors that impact the risk of predation.