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Loeffler-Henry K, Sherratt TN. Selection for evasive mimicry imposed by an arthropod predator. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20230461. [PMID: 38166416 PMCID: PMC10762431 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
It has long been hypothesized that a species that is relatively easy to catch by predators may face selection to resemble a species that is harder to catch. Several experiments using avian predators have since supported this 'evasive mimicry' hypothesis. However, the sudden movement of artificial evasive prey in each of the above experiments may have startled the predators, generating an avoidance response unrelated to difficulty of capture. Additionally in the above experiments the catchability of prey was all or nothing, while in nature predators may occasionally catch evasive prey or fail to catch slower species, which might inhibit learning. Here, using mantids as predators, we conducted an experimental test of the evasive mimicry hypothesis that circumvents these limitations, using live painted calyptrate flies with modified evasive capabilities as prey. We found that mantids readily learned to avoid pursuing the more evasive prey types. Warning signals based on evasiveness and their associated mimicry may be widespread phenomena in nature. These findings not only further support its plausibility but demonstrate that even arthropod predators can select for it.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas N. Sherratt
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
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Gawel L, Powell EC, Brock M, Taylor LA. Conspicuous stripes on prey capture attention and reduce attacks by foraging jumping spiders. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230907. [PMID: 38026030 PMCID: PMC10663800 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Many animals avoid predation using aposematic displays that pair toxic/dangerous defences with conspicuous achromatic warning patterns, such as high-contrast stripes. To understand how these prey defences work, we need to understand the decision-making of visual predators. Here we gave two species of jumping spiders (Phidippus regius and Habronattus trimaculatus) choice tests using live termites that had their back patterns manipulated using paper capes (solid white, solid black, striped). For P. regius, black and striped termites were quicker to capture attention. Yet despite this increased attention, striped termites were attacked at lower rates than either white or black. This suggests that the termite's contrast with the background elicits attention, but the internal striped body patterning reduces attacks. Results from tests with H. trimaculatus were qualitatively similar but did not meet the threshold for statistical significance. Additional exploratory analyses suggest that attention to and aversion to stripes is at least partially innate and provide further insight into how decision-making played out during trials. Because of their rich diversity (over 6500 species) that includes variation in natural history, toxin susceptibility and degree of colour vision, jumping spiders are well suited to test broad generalizations about how and why aposematic displays work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Gawel
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Erin C. Powell
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, 1911 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Michelle Brock
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Lisa A. Taylor
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Rengifo-Correa L, Rocha-Ortega M, Córdoba-Aguilar A. Modeling Mosquitoes and their Potential Odonate Predators Under Different Land Uses. ECOHEALTH 2022; 19:417-426. [PMID: 35676600 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-022-01600-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To efficiently face the accelerated landscape transformation and its consequences in restructuring biotic communities and ecosystem services, one first question is which regional systems deserve prioritization for empirical assessments and interventive strategies. For the particular case of vector-borne disease control, we should consider generalist predators exhibiting differential responses to land-use change, as is the case of odonate insects. Thus, our aim was to infer land uses in Mexico where odonates (i.e., damselflies and dragonflies) might have some potential to predate mosquitoes of medical relevance. The study area included the hydrological basins of central Mexico. We modelled 167 species of odonates, four species of mosquitoes, and 51 land-use categories. Inferring spatial co-occurrence patterns from data mining and complex networks, we identified: (1) the ecological network of odonates and mosquitoes and (2) the land uses shared by these two groups. We inferred that 34% of odonate species co-occur with mosquitoes of medical relevance mainly in some preserved-mountain mesophyll cloud forest, high evergreen rainforest, and low tropical dry forest-but also in highly modified-human settlements, irrigation-based and pastures crop fields-land uses with strong human presence. Our findings highlight the relevance of community-regional studies for understanding the public health consequences of landscape change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rengifo-Correa
- Centro de Ciencias de La Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Coyoacán, Mexico, Mexico
| | - Maya Rocha-Ortega
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. P. 70-275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Coyoacán, Mexico, Mexico
| | - Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. P. 70-275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Coyoacán, Mexico, Mexico.
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Kuile AM, Apigo A, Bui A, DiFiore B, Forbes ES, Lee M, Orr D, Preston DL, Behm R, Bogar T, Childress J, Dirzo R, Klope M, Lafferty KD, McLaughlin J, Morse M, Motta C, Park K, Plummer K, Weber D, Young R, Young H. Predator–prey interactions of terrestrial invertebrates are determined by predator body size and species identity. Ecology 2022; 103:e3634. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Miller‐ter Kuile
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Austen Apigo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - An Bui
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Bartholomew DiFiore
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Elizabeth S. Forbes
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Michelle Lee
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Devyn Orr
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Daniel L. Preston
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins Colorado United States
| | - Rachel Behm
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Taylor Bogar
- School of Biological Sciences University of Hong Kong Hong Kong HK
| | - Jasmine Childress
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Rodolfo Dirzo
- Department of Biology Stanford University, Gilbert Biology Building, 371 Jane Stanford Way Stanford California United States
| | - Maggie Klope
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Kevin D. Lafferty
- Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey, at Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara United States
| | - John McLaughlin
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Marisa Morse
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Carina Motta
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Kevin Park
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Katherine Plummer
- Department of Biology Stanford University, Gilbert Biology Building, 371 Jane Stanford Way Stanford California United States
| | - David Weber
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia United States
| | - Ronny Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
| | - Hillary Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California United States
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32 years of essential management to retain value of an urban dragonfly awareness pond. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01115-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Khan FZA, Joseph SV. Influence of the Color, Shape, and Size of the Clay Model on Arthropod Interactions in Turfgrass. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2021; 21:6404557. [PMID: 34668976 PMCID: PMC8527575 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieab070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many predatory arthropods occur naturally in turfgrass, and they provide adequate control of lepidopteran pests, such as fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Recording predation is challenging under field conditions because predators rarely leave any evidence. Clay models were successfully employed for studying predation, and this technique is underutilized in turfgrass. Little is known about whether the characteristics of clay models, such as color, shape, and size, influence arthropod interactions in turfgrass. To improve the utility of clay models in turfgrass, the influence of the color, shape, and size of clay models on arthropod interactions was studied by exposing clay models during daytime and nighttime in a turfgrass field. The results showed that arthropods interacted with clay models, and various types of impressions were recorded, including paired marks, scratches, cuts, and pricks. Although the color of the clay model had no significant effects on arthropod interactions during the night, significantly greater numbers of impressions were noticed on the blue and green models than on the yellow models during the daytime. The caterpillar-shaped models captured significantly greater densities of impressions than the beetle-shaped models. Additionally, the number of impressions significantly increased with an increase in the size of the model regardless of shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fawad Z A Khan
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223, USA
| | - Shimat V Joseph
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223, USA
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Lancer BH, Evans BJE, Wiederman SD. The visual neuroecology of anisoptera. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2020; 42:14-22. [PMID: 32841784 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dragonflies belong to the oldest known lineage of flying animals, found across the globe around streams, ponds and forests. They are insect predators, specialising in ambush attack as aquatic larvae and rapid pursuit as adults. Dragonfly adults hunt amidst swarms in conditions that confuse many predatory species, and exhibit capture rates above 90%. Underlying the performance of such a remarkable predator is a finely tuned visual system capable of tracking targets amidst distractors and background clutter. The dragonfly performs a complex repertoire of flight behaviours, from near-motionless hovering to acute turns at high speeds. Here, we review the optical, neuronal, and behavioural adaptations that underlie the dragonflies' ability to achieve such remarkable predatory success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Horatio Lancer
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005 South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Steven D Wiederman
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005 South Australia, Australia.
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Loeffler-Henry K, Kang C, Sherratt TN. Consistent Associations between Body Size and Hidden Contrasting Color Signals across a Range of Insect Taxa. Am Nat 2019; 194:28-37. [PMID: 31251647 DOI: 10.1086/703535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
While there have been a number of recent advances in our understanding of the evolution of animal color patterns, much of this work has focused on color patterns that are constantly displayed. However, some animals hide functional color signals and display them only transiently through behavioral displays. These displays are widely employed as a secondary defense following detection when fleeing (flash display) or when stationary (deimatic display). Yet if displays of hidden colors are so effective in deterring predation, why have not all species evolved them? An earlier study suggested that the hidden antipredatory color signals in insects are more likely to have evolved in species with large size because either (or both) (i) large cryptic prey are more frequently detected and pursued or (ii) hidden color signals in large prey are more effective in deterring predation than in small prey. These arguments should apply universally to any prey that use hidden signals, so the association between large size and hidden contrasting color signals should be evident across diverse groups of prey. In this study, we tested this prediction in five different groups of insects. Using phylogenetically controlled analysis to elucidate the relationship between body size and color contrast between forewings and hind wings, we found evidence for the predicted size-color contrast associations in four different groups of insects, namely, Orthoptera, Phasmatidae, Mantidae, and Saturniidae, but not in Sphingidae. Collectively, our study indicates that body size plays an important role in explaining variation in the evolution of hidden contrasting color signals in insects.
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Should I stay or should I go? Perching damselfly use simple colour and size cues to trigger flight. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Thyselius M, Gonzalez-Bellido PT, Wardill TJ, Nordström K. Visual approach computation in feeding hoverflies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.177162. [PMID: 29720383 PMCID: PMC5992577 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.177162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
On warm sunny days, female hoverflies are often observed feeding from a wide range of wild and cultivated flowers. In doing so, hoverflies serve a vital role as alternative pollinators, and are suggested to be the most important pollinators after bees and bumblebees. Unless the flower hoverflies are feeding from is large, they do not readily share the space with other insects, but instead opt to leave if another insect approaches. We used high-speed videography followed by 3D reconstruction of flight trajectories to quantify how female Eristalis hoverflies respond to approaching bees, wasps and two different hoverfly species. We found that, in 94% of the interactions, the occupant female left the flower when approached by another insect. We found that compared with spontaneous take-offs, the occupant hoverfly's escape response was performed at ∼3 times higher speed (spontaneous take-off at 0.2±0.05 m s−1 compared with 0.55±0.08 m s−1 when approached by another Eristalis). The hoverflies tended to take off upward and forward, while taking the incomer's approach angle into account. Intriguingly, we found that, when approached by wasps, the occupant Eristalis took off at a higher speed and when the wasp was further away. This suggests that feeding hoverflies may be able to distinguish these predators, demanding impressive visual capabilities. Our results, including quantification of the visual information available before occupant take-off, provide important insight into how freely behaving hoverflies perform escape responses from competitors and predators (e.g. wasps) in the wild. Highlighted Article: Reconstruction of the take-off and flight of feeding female hoverflies when approached by other insects, and quantification of visual parameters, reveals how freely behaving hoverflies perform escape responses from competitors and predators in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Thyselius
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Paloma T Gonzalez-Bellido
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 2EG, UK
| | - Trevor J Wardill
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 2EG, UK
| | - Karin Nordström
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden .,Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
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