How butterflies use hormones to predict the future
It is not only teenagers undergoing puberty that seem to be ruled by their hormones. In insects, too, hormones play a crucial role in matching behaviour, growth and reproduction to the prevailing external conditions. For example, during a season of food shortage, it is better to postpone reproduction rather than to give offspring a poor start in life. A more effective strategy is to ensure that reproduction coincides with the season when food supplies are plentiful.
