Spectacular Batesian mimicry in ants.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_7001408EE4C3
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Spectacular Batesian mimicry in ants.
Journal
Die Naturwissenschaften
Author(s)
Ito F., Hashim R., Huei Y.S., Kaufmann E., Akino T., Billen J.
ISSN
0028-1042 (Print)
ISSN-L
0028-1042
Publication state
Published
Issued date
10/2004
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
91
Number
10
Pages
481-484
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
The mechanism by which palatable species take advantage of their similarity in appearance to those that are unpalatable, in order to avoid predation, is called Batesian mimicry. Several arthropods are thought to be Batesian mimics of social insects; however, social insects that are Batesian mimics among themselves are rare. In Malaysia we found a possible Batesian mimic in an arboreal ant species, Camponotus sp., which was exclusively observed on foraging trails of the myrmicine ant Crematogaster inflata. The bright yellow and black colouring pattern, as well as the walking behaviour, were very similar in both species. We observed general interactions between the two species, and tested their palatability and the significance of the remarkably similar visual colour patterns for predator avoidance. Prey offered to C. inflata was also eaten by Camponotus workers in spite of their being attacked by C. inflata, indicating that Camponotus sp. is a commensal of C. inflata. An experiment with chicks as potential predators suggests that Camponotus sp. is palatable whereas C. inflata is unpalatable. After tasting C. inflata, the chicks no longer attacked Camponotus sp., indicating that Camponotus sp. is a Batesian mimic of Crematogaster inflata.
Keywords
Adaptation, Biological, Adaptation, Physiological, Aggression, Animals, Ants/physiology, Feeding Behavior, Predatory Behavior
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
07/07/2015 13:28
Last modification date
12/05/2023 14:07
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