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Fig. 6. Abrupt orientation changes following a turn of the polarizer were observed
in a few butterflies, although this behavior also occurred in other
situations. (A,B) Tracks of two of the three individual butterflies (out of a
total of 50 monarchs tested) that changed their orientation by 
90°
after the polarizer was turned by 90°. (A) 44° polarizer. (B) 85°
polarizer. (C,D) Examples of what might be transient orientation responses
towards the polarizer being turned by 90°. (E) However, one out of 10
monarchs showed a distinct 90° shift in orientation when the lid with
an opening exposing the blue sky instead of a polarizer was turned. (F) A
90° turn observed in the same experimental condition (see E) but
occurring before the turn of the lid. (G,H) Spontaneous 90° changes
in orientation of monarchs flying under the artificial polarizer. Note that
the animal in G altered its mean flight direction before the polarizer was
turned and not in response to the turn. In H, the butterfly abruptly changed
its orientation by 90° although the polarizer was never turned. In
two-colored tracks, the orange parts indicate the virtual flight paths of the
monarchs before the polarizer and/or the lid was turned. The blue parts
indicate the tracks flown after the turn.
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