Spectacular Batesian mimicry in ants.

Détails

ID Serval
serval:BIB_7001408EE4C3
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Titre
Spectacular Batesian mimicry in ants.
Périodique
Die Naturwissenschaften
Auteur⸱e⸱s
Ito F., Hashim R., Huei Y.S., Kaufmann E., Akino T., Billen J.
ISSN
0028-1042 (Print)
ISSN-L
0028-1042
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
10/2004
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
91
Numéro
10
Pages
481-484
Langue
anglais
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Résumé
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.
Mots-clé
Adaptation, Biological, Adaptation, Physiological, Aggression, Animals, Ants/physiology, Feeding Behavior, Predatory Behavior
Pubmed
Web of science
Création de la notice
07/07/2015 14:28
Dernière modification de la notice
12/05/2023 15:07
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