Natures wonders: moth camouflage (Introduction)

by David Turell , Friday, September 09, 2016, 19:39 (2995 days ago) @ David Turell

We see butterflies with patterns that suggest predators parts. In this case it is a moth who has a whole mural: - http://www.myrmecos.net/2011/08/30/a-mural-on-moth-wings/ - "Do you see the mural? - "Mimicry is common in insects. Some adopt the cryptic appearance of sticks or leaves, some ape the stripes of stinging wasps, and some sport the colors of poisonous butterflies. There are caterpillars that look like bird droppings, and beetles that look like caterpillar frass. I've even seen a blister beetle that mimics a harvester ant running backward dragging a seed. - "But Macrocilix maia is a first. It's the only mimic insect I know that paints an entire scene. It looks like a watercolor. Two red-eyed muscomorph flies feed from fresh bird droppings, complete with light glinting off their wings. I've never seen anything like it! - "The scant published research on the mural moth is systematic in nature, with nary a mention of the incredible mimicry. In fact, the photo-sharing site Flickr has outpaced any academic work: photographer Allan Lee reports in 2009 that the moth reinforces the imagery with a pungent odor. That's the extent of our knowledge. Macrocilix maia is a Ph.D. project waiting to happen." - Comment: Are we just seeing as pattern we recognize because our brain sees patterns automatically, or is this just a coincidence? It should be studied. Since mimicry is so common, it may be a real result of true evolution, which raises the issue of how many steps were taken in evolution to paint this? Or are we viewing an other saltation?