whose caterpillars feed on only one or a few closely related
plant families. The plant families on which they feed are
strongly protected by toxic chemicals. The model butterflies
incorporate the poisonous molecules from these plants
into their bodies. The mimic butterflies, in contrast, belong
to groups in which the feeding habits of the caterpillars are
not so restricted. As caterpillars, these butterflies feed on a
number of different plant families unprotected by toxic
chemicals