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Predator mimicry : Metalmark moths mimic their jumping spider predators

Rota, Jadranka LU orcid and Wagner, David L. (2006) In PLoS ONE 1(1).
Abstract

Cases of mimicry provide many of the nature's most convincing examples of natural selection. Here we report evidence for a case of predator mimicry in which metalmark moths in the genus Brenthia mimic jumping spiders, one of their predators. In controlled trials, Brenthia had higher survival rates than other similarly sized moths in the presence of jumping spiders and jumping spiders responded to Brenthia with territorial displays, indicating that Brenthia were sometimes mistaken for jumping spiders, and not recognized as prey. Our experimental results and a review of wing patterns of other insects indicate that jumping spider mimicry is more widespread than heretofore appreciated, and that jumping spiders are probably an important... (More)

Cases of mimicry provide many of the nature's most convincing examples of natural selection. Here we report evidence for a case of predator mimicry in which metalmark moths in the genus Brenthia mimic jumping spiders, one of their predators. In controlled trials, Brenthia had higher survival rates than other similarly sized moths in the presence of jumping spiders and jumping spiders responded to Brenthia with territorial displays, indicating that Brenthia were sometimes mistaken for jumping spiders, and not recognized as prey. Our experimental results and a review of wing patterns of other insects indicate that jumping spider mimicry is more widespread than heretofore appreciated, and that jumping spiders are probably an important selective pressure shaping the evolution of diurnal insects that perch on vegetation.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PLoS ONE
volume
1
issue
1
article number
e45
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • pmid:17183674
  • scopus:45349090884
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0000045
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
d97924dc-0b8b-49b0-ac33-9808644c71d7
date added to LUP
2016-11-07 11:14:51
date last changed
2024-04-05 08:09:11
@article{d97924dc-0b8b-49b0-ac33-9808644c71d7,
  abstract     = {{<p>Cases of mimicry provide many of the nature's most convincing examples of natural selection. Here we report evidence for a case of predator mimicry in which metalmark moths in the genus Brenthia mimic jumping spiders, one of their predators. In controlled trials, Brenthia had higher survival rates than other similarly sized moths in the presence of jumping spiders and jumping spiders responded to Brenthia with territorial displays, indicating that Brenthia were sometimes mistaken for jumping spiders, and not recognized as prey. Our experimental results and a review of wing patterns of other insects indicate that jumping spider mimicry is more widespread than heretofore appreciated, and that jumping spiders are probably an important selective pressure shaping the evolution of diurnal insects that perch on vegetation.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rota, Jadranka and Wagner, David L.}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{Predator mimicry : Metalmark moths mimic their jumping spider predators}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000045}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0000045}},
  volume       = {{1}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}