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A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
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Sphingid caterpillars conspicuous patches do not function as distractive marks or warning against predators.

Julia Barrone1, Mayra C Vidal1, Robert Stevenson1

  • 1Department of Biology University of Massachusetts Boston Boston Massachusetts USA.

Ecology and Evolution
|July 26, 2023
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Summary

Pandora sphinx caterpillars

Keywords:
antipredatorartificial preycaterpillardistractive marksprotective coloration, conspicuous patches

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Caterpillars use cryptic or aposematic coloration for predator avoidance.
  • The function of conspicuous patches on palatable caterpillars, like Eumorpha pandorus, is unclear.
  • E. pandorus exhibits both cryptic and conspicuous color morphs and lateral patches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of coloration and conspicuous patches in E. pandorus caterpillar predation.
  • To test the distractive mark and warning hypotheses for conspicuous patches.
  • To analyze predator responses to different visual cues.

Main Methods:

  • Field study in Massachusetts using plasticine caterpillar prey models.
  • Four treatments: green/red models with/without lateral patches.
  • Assessed attack rates by various predator taxa (arthropods, birds, rodents).

Main Results:

  • 43% of models showed predator bite marks.
  • Arthropods attacked green and non-patterned models more frequently.
  • Vertebrates attacked red and patterned models more frequently.
  • No evidence supported the distractive mark or warning hypotheses.

Conclusions:

  • Conspicuous patch patterning did not reduce predation in E. pandorus.
  • Predator responses to visual cues varied significantly between arthropods and vertebrates.
  • Different predator groups interpret visual defensive strategies differently.