False holes as camouflage.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Leah M CostelloInnes C Cuthill

Abstract

Long noted by naturalists, leaf mimicry provides some of the most impressive examples of camouflage through masquerade. Many species of leaf-mimicking Lepidoptera also sport wing markings that closely resemble irregularly shaped holes caused by decay or insect damage. Despite proposals that such markings can either enhance resemblance to damaged leaves or act to disrupt surface appearance through false depth cues, to our knowledge, no attempt has been made to establish exactly how these markings function, or even whether they confer a survival benefit to prey. Here, in two field experiments using artificial butterfly-like targets, we show that false hole markings provide significant survival benefits against avian predation. Furthermore, in a computer-based visual search experiment, we demonstrate that detection of such targets by humans is impeded in a similar fashion. Equally contrasting light marks do not have the same effect; indeed, they lead to increased detection. We conclude that the mechanism is the disruption of the otherwise homogeneous wing surface (surface disruptive camouflage) and that, by resembling the holes sometimes found in real leaves, the disruptive benefits are not offset by conspicuousness costs.

Associated Datasets

Feb 2, 2021·Innes CuthillLeah Costello

References

Jan 1, 1997·Spatial Vision·D H Brainard
Oct 14, 2005·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Martin Stevens
Aug 12, 2006·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Martin Stevens, Innes C Cuthill
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Nov 8, 2008·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Martin Stevens, Sami Merilaita
Nov 8, 2008·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Martin Stevens, Sami Merilaita
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Jan 2, 2010·Science·John SkelhornGraeme D Ruxton
May 24, 2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Sami MerilaitaInnes C Cuthill

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Citations

May 28, 2020·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·James B BarnettInnes C Cuthill
Dec 2, 2020·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Tim Caro, Manisha Koneru
Mar 23, 2021·Scientific Reports·Veronika A RohrClemens Küpper
Aug 5, 2021·BMC Ecology and Evolution·Emmanuelle Sophie BriolatMartin Stevens

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