»Welt am Sonntag« newspaper, 20/02/05
Amino acids in nectar increase fertility
Butterflies prefer flowers with nectar containing a high concentration of amino acids. Scientists at the University of Basel have found that amino acids have a positive effect on butterfly fertility.
The researchers fed two different species of nettles to the caterpillars. The nectar of one nettle species contained far more amino acids than the other. After the butterflies had hatched, those fed with the amino acid-rich nectar laid significantly more eggs.