General Information
Mimicry
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Some butterflies defend against predators by
incorporating toxins from their food plants when they are caterpillars. The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an example for this. Its caterpillars feed
on milkweed plants which aren’t poisonous for the monarch but for other
animals. The monarch’s bright colors warn predators better not to eat this
butterfly that only causes sickness. Having eaten such a butterfly once a bird will
always remember to keep away from it.
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Other, non-poisonous species try to profit from the protective effect of the coloration, too. The Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus) mimics the Monarch, for
example.
Over the years and generations the coloration has developed by natural
selection. Remembering bad experiences with monarch butterflies, predators avoided butterflies looking like monarchs as well. This kind of imitation is called Batesian mimicry.
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Not only the coloration but also the behavior of the "model" is imitated and sometimes the
mimicking butterflies fly with them together in one group.
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Some species can mimic several different "models". The descendants of one female can have up to three different appearances, each is the imitation of another species.
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The males of another species must dispense with mimicry so that the females
don’t mistake them for the ones of the copied species.
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Not only poisonous and inedible butterflies but also wasps, hornets, bumblebees and
poisonous beetles are mimicked. The sphinx moth caterpillar even imitates a
venomous snake when it feels menaced.
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Another kind of mimicry is called "Mullerian mimicry". The monarch
butterfly and the milkweed bug (Lygaeidae) for example have the same bright coloring and
store the same toxin. This might be useful because the predators of the area
must only remember one kind of coloration to keep away from. One experience
saves the lives of two species.
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Camouflage
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Home
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| Original | "Copy" |
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Not only the coloration but also the behavior of the "model" is imitated and sometimes the
mimicking butterflies fly with them together in one group.
|
|
|
|
Some species can mimic several different "models". The descendants of one female can have up to three different appearances, each is the imitation of another species.
|
|
|
|
The males of another species must dispense with mimicry so that the females
don’t mistake them for the ones of the copied species.
|
|
|
|
Not only poisonous and inedible butterflies but also wasps, hornets, bumblebees and
poisonous beetles are mimicked. The sphinx moth caterpillar even imitates a
venomous snake when it feels menaced.
|
|
|
|
Another kind of mimicry is called "Mullerian mimicry". The monarch
butterfly and the milkweed bug (Lygaeidae) for example have the same bright coloring and
store the same toxin. This might be useful because the predators of the area
must only remember one kind of coloration to keep away from. One experience
saves the lives of two species.
|
|
Camouflage
|
Home
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