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The accuracy of the mimicry depends not only on the presence of the appropriate major genes but also on the rest of the gene complex. Thus within a race there is an integrated genetic system and on outcrossing this becomes disturbed, leading to poorer mimicry. The system of modifiers controlling the accuracy of the mimetic pattern is closely pararelled by that in P. dardanus. In particular, in P. polytes f. theseus appears to differ from f. polytes only as a result of the presence of a modifier system, as does f. hippocoon from f. hippocoonides in P. dardanus.
In P. dardanus from Ethiopia it was found that specific modifiers adjusting the tail length of mimetic females have been selected for, thus improving the mimicry. An analogous situation has been found in P. polytes although here the control is more effective in that the resulting difference in tail length between the mimetic and non-mimetic forms can be as much as 10 mm, whereas in P. dardanus is rarely exceeds 3 mm.
The great similarity in the genetic structure of P. polytes and P. dardanus (as well as P. memnon) strongly suggests that selection for a mimetic polymorphism results in the evolution of very similar genetic control mechanisms in different species - that is to say it is the nature of the selection rather than the species involved which determines the genetic architecture.