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Socha JJ, Khandelwal PC. Animal locomotion: Wing-like femoral lobes help orchid mantid nymphs glide. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R94-R98. [PMID: 38320481 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The femoral lobes of the orchid mantis give this fierce predator a flower-like appearance, but they also assist in gliding, showing that form can match function in more ways than one.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Socha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
| | - Pranav C Khandelwal
- Institute of Flight Mechanics and Controls, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Tübingen, Germany
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Zhao X, Liu JX, Charles-Dominique T, Campos-Arceiz A, Dong B, Yan L, O'Hanlon JC, Zeng Y, Chen Z. Petal-shaped femoral lobes facilitate gliding in orchid mantises. Curr Biol 2024; 34:183-189.e4. [PMID: 38035884 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
To glide in forest canopies, arboreal vertebrates evolved various skin-derived aerodynamic structures, such as patagial membranes or webbing, but no comparable structure has been reported from wingless arboreal arthropods.1,2,3 Orchid mantises (Hymenopus coronatus) have been traditionally considered a textbook example of flower mimicry for ∼200 years due to their highly expanded, petal-shaped femoral lobes. However, the empirical evidence substantiating the petal-mimicry function of the femoral lobes has not been entirely conclusive.4,5,6 Observational and experimental evidence suggests that these lobes do not contribute to flower mimicry for luring pollinators6,7 and likely serve other functions.7,8 After observing their aerial escape initiated with active jumping, we hypothesized that orchid mantises can glide and that their femoral lobes are used for gliding. Through behavioral investigations and morphological analyses, we show that orchid mantis nymphs are excellent gliders, exhibiting the shallowest gliding trajectories observed in terrestrial invertebrates.9,10,11,12,13 The lobe extensions on their femoral segments are cambered airfoils, which increase the mantis projected area by ∼36% and play a vital role in the aerodynamic underpinning of the observed gliding. Despite a 165-fold increase in body mass throughout ontogeny, older female mantis nymphs maintained a persistent gliding capability. We further showed a notable 40%-56% reduction in wing loading attributed to the positive size allometry of these lobes, indicating a clear promotion of gliding throughout ontogeny. This is the first documentation of gliding-adapted "leg wings" in a wingless arthropod. The evolution of such structures is potentially common among arboreal arthropods and demands a systematic re-examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan 666303, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing-Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Tristan Charles-Dominique
- CNRS UMR5120, UMR AMAP, University Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Montpellier 34980, France; CNRS UMR7618, Sorbonne University, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 4 Place Jussieu, Paris 75005, France
| | - Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan 666303, China; Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Bing Dong
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Dyers Brae, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Lin Yan
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA
| | | | - Yu Zeng
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Zhanqi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan 666303, China.
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The orchid mantis exhibits high ontogenetic colouration variety and intersexual life history differences. Evol Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-023-10230-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Abstract
Abstract
Lures are deceptive strategies that exploit sensory biases in prey, usually mimicking a prey’s mate or food item. Several predators exploit plant–pollinator systems, where visual signals are an essential part of interspecific interactions. Many diurnal, and even nocturnal, orb-web spiders present conspicuous body coloration or bright color patches. These bright colors are regarded as color-based lures that exploit biases present in insect visual systems, possibly mimicking flower colors. The prey attraction hypothesis was proposed more than 20 years ago to explain orb-web spider coloration. Although most data gathered so far has corroborated the predictions of the prey attraction hypothesis, there are several studies that refute these predictions. We conducted a multilevel phylogenetic meta-analysis to assess the magnitude of the effect of conspicuous orb-web spider body coloration on prey attraction. We found a positive effect in favor of the prey attraction hypothesis; however, there was substantial heterogeneity between studies. Experimental designs comparing conspicuous spiders to painted spiders or empty webs did not explain between-studies heterogeneity. The lack of theoretical explanation behind the prey attraction hypothesis makes it challenging to address which components influence prey attraction. Future studies could evaluate whether color is part of a multicomponent signal and test alternative hypotheses for the evolution of spider colors, such as predator avoidance and thermoregulation.
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Rodríguez-Gironés MA, Jiménez OM. Encounters with predators fail to trigger predator avoidance in bumblebees, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Many species must learn to identify their predators, but little is known about the effect of direct encounters on the development of predator avoidance. We asked whether bumblebees, Bombus terrestris, learn to avoid predators, whether learning depends on the conspicuousness of predators and whether bumblebees learn to identify predators or simply to avoid dangerous patches. To answer these questions, we allowed bumblebees to forage in an enclosed meadow of 15 artificial flowers containing a yellow female crab spider, Thomisus onustus. Flowers were yellow in half of the trials and white in the other half. Spiders could remain at the same flower throughout the experiment or swap flowers between bee foraging bouts. Of the 60 bees used in the experiment, eight were killed by the spiders and nine stopped foraging without finishing the trial. Death or refusal to forage typically occurred early in the trial. Regardless of the treatment, the probability of landing at the spider-harbouring flower increased with time. Previous encounters with heterospecific individuals can therefore be a poor source of information about their predatory nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Rodríguez-Gironés
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Carretera de Sacrament s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almeria, Spain
| | - Olga M Jiménez
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Carretera de Sacrament s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almeria, Spain
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Bocek M, Kusy D, Motyka M, Bocak L. Persistence of multiple patterns and intraspecific polymorphism in multi-species Müllerian communities of net-winged beetles. Front Zool 2019; 16:38. [PMID: 31636689 PMCID: PMC6798367 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-019-0335-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In contrast to traditional models of purifying selection and a single aposematic signal in Müllerian complexes, some communities of unprofitable prey contain members with multiple aposematic patterns. Processes responsible for diversity in aposematic signaling are poorly understood and large multi-species communities are seldom considered. RESULTS We analyzed the phylogeny and aposematic patterns of closely related Eniclases net-winged beetles in New Guinea using mtDNA and nextRAD data. We suggest three clades of closely related and incompletely reproductively isolated lineages, detail the extent of polymorphism among Eniclases, and categorize their low-contrast aposematic patterns. The warning signal of Eniclases consists of body shape and color, with ambiguous color perception under some circumstances, i.e., when resting on the undersides of leaves. Field observations suggest that perception of the aposematic signal is affected by beetle behavior and environmental conditions. Local communities containing Eniclases consisted of 7-85 metriorrhynchine species assigned to 3-10 colour patterns. CONCLUSION As a result, we suggest that under certain light conditions the aposematic colour signal is less apparent than the body shape in net-winged beetle communities. We document variable environmental factors in our study area and highly diverse multi-species communities of other net-winged beetles. Which implies dynamically changing community structure in space and time. Variable environmental conditions and diverse community composition are suggested to be favorable for the persistence of multiple aposematic patterns, imperfect mimics, and intraspecific polymorphism. Further research should identify the relative effect of these factors on purifying selection and the alleles which are responsible for phenotypic differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matej Bocek
- Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, tr. 17. listopadu 50, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Dominik Kusy
- Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, tr. 17. listopadu 50, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Motyka
- Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, tr. 17. listopadu 50, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Bocak
- Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, tr. 17. listopadu 50, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Weigel BL. Digest: Floral ambush in the sun: Evolution of flower-dwelling and UV-white reflectance in crab spiders*. Evolution 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke L. Weigel
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology; University of Chicago; 1025 E. 57th Street Chicago Illinois 60637
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Svenson GJ, Brannoch SK, Rodrigues HM, O'Hanlon JC, Wieland F. Selection for predation, not female fecundity, explains sexual size dimorphism in the orchid mantises. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37753. [PMID: 27905469 PMCID: PMC5131372 DOI: 10.1038/srep37753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we reconstruct the evolutionary shift towards floral simulation in orchid mantises and suggest female predatory selection as the likely driving force behind the development of extreme sexual size dimorphism. Through analysis of body size data and phylogenetic modelling of trait evolution, we recovered an ancestral shift towards sexual dimorphisms in both size and appearance in a lineage of flower-associated praying mantises. Sedentary female flower mantises dramatically increased in size prior to a transition from camouflaged, ambush predation to a floral simulation strategy, gaining access to, and visually attracting, a novel resource: large pollinating insects. Male flower mantises, however, remained small and mobile to facilitate mate-finding and reproductive success, consistent with ancestral male life strategy. Although moderate sexual size dimorphisms are common in many arthropod lineages, the predominant explanation is female size increase for increased fecundity. However, sex-dependent selective pressures acting outside of female fecundity have been suggested as mechanisms behind niche dimorphisms. Our hypothesised role of predatory selection acting on females to generate both extreme sexual size dimorphism coupled with niche dimorphism is novel among arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin J Svenson
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Sydney K Brannoch
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Henrique M Rodrigues
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - James C O'Hanlon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Frank Wieland
- Pfalzmuseum für Naturkunde - POLLICHIA-Museum, Bad Dürkheim, Germany
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Zhang J, Weirauch C, Zhang G, Forero D. Molecular phylogeny of Harpactorinae and Bactrodinae uncovers complex evolution of sticky trap predation in assassin bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae). Cladistics 2015; 32:538-554. [DOI: 10.1111/cla.12140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Junxia Zhang
- Department of Entomology University of California, Riverside Riverside CA 92521 USA
| | - Christiane Weirauch
- Department of Entomology University of California, Riverside Riverside CA 92521 USA
| | - Guanyang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences Arizona State University Tempe AZ 85281 USA
| | - Dimitri Forero
- Departamento de Biología Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Carrera 7 #43‐82 Bogotá Colombia
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Skelhorn J, Holmes GG, Hossie TJ, Sherratt TN. Multicomponent deceptive signals reduce the speed at which predators learn that prey are profitable. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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11
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Suzuki TN, Sakurai R. Bent posture improves the protective value of bird dropping masquerading by caterpillars. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Habitat selection in a deceptive predator: maximizing resource availability and signal efficacy. Behav Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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