Do crab spiders perceive Batesian mimicry in hoverflies?

Rohanna L. Morris and Tom Reader

Behavioral Ecology, 2016, vol. 27, issue 3, 920-931

Abstract: Lay Summary Batesian mimicry is a textbook example of adaptive evolution, but many supposed mimic species are relatively easy to distinguish from their noxious models. Here, we explore the potential of invertebrate predators to influence the evolution of mimicry that appears “imperfect” to vertebrate eyes. We find that crab spiders, which are important predators of many mimetic hoverflies, use visual cues to differentiate among prey types, and that they may select for (potentially inaccurate) mimicry.

Keywords: aposematism; color patterns; evolution; imperfect Batesian mimicry; predator; selection; visual signals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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