Biologists
found that adult spiders that pretend to be ants retain their spiderly figures
to attract mates
Date: February 27, 2019
Source: University of Cincinnati
Spiders
that pretend to be ants to fool predators have an unusual problem when it comes
to sex.
How do
they get the attention of potential mates without breaking character to birds
that want to eat them?
University
of Cincinnati biologists say evolution might provide an elegant solution.
Viewed from above, the mimics look like skinny, three-segmented ants to fool
predators. But in profile, the adult mimics retain their more voluptuous and
alluring spider figure to woo nearby mates.
UC
researchers presented their findings in January at the Society for Integrative
and Comparative Biology conference in Tampa, Fla.
Most
birds avoid ants and their painful stingers, sharp mandibles and habit of
showing up with lots of friends. Try to eat one and you're likely to get chewed
on by 10 more. That's why nearly every insect family from beetles to mantises
has species that mimic ants.
By
comparison, spiders are delicious and nutritious, said Alexis Dodson, a UC
doctoral student and lead author.
"That's
what a lot of natural selection is all about -- to convince other species not to
eat you and convince members of your species to mate with you and to do so at
the least cost possible," Dodson said.
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