Predator selection on multicomponent warning signals in an aposematic moth.

ABSTRACT: Aposematic prey advertise their unprofitability with conspicuous warning signals that are often composed of multiple color patterns. Many species show intraspecific variation in these patterns even though selection is expected to favor invariable warning signals that enhance predator learning. However, if predators acquire avoidance to specific signal components, this might relax selection on other aposematic traits and explain variability. Here, we investigated this idea in the aposematic moth Amata nigriceps that has conspicuous black and orange coloration. The size of the orange spots in the wings is highly variable between individuals, whereas the number and width of orange abdominal stripes remains consistent. We produced artificial moths that varied in the proportion of orange

SUBMITTER: Hamalainen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10976905 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan-Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature