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Does anyone want to speculate on the evolutionary reason behind that interesting pattern on its back? It's odd because it makes an insect that otherwise is ver

Does anyone want to speculate on the evolutionary reason behind that interesting pattern on its back? It's odd because it makes an insect that otherwise is very camouflaged much more noticeable. This makes me wonder if it's biomimicry of another dangerous/poisonous/distasteful local insect.

maratd 14y ago
> Does anyone want to speculate on the evolutionary reason behind that interesting pattern on its back? More than likely, it's a sexual display/indicator without any "practical" purpose related to survival. Like a peacock's tail. If you're really interested in evolutionary biology, read Darwin's original work. You'll be surprised to learn that most adaptations have little to do with survival.
- 1as 14y ago
  Perhaps I'm niggling, but even adaptations which evolve by sexual selection have everything to do with survival.
  - graue 14y ago
    Genetic survival, yes. Survival of the individual, no.
spitx 14y ago
Something akin to the evolution of the peppered moth, perhaps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution But then again, the "original experiments behind the peppered moth story" were known to have "widely acknowledged flaws." http://www.truthinscience.org.uk/tis2/index.php/component/content/article/127.html http://www.truthinscience.org.uk/tis2/index.php/component/co...
SoftwareMaven 14y ago
My son and I both thought it looked like a spider on its wings. Maybe it's a trick to make predators think it already got caught.
- malkia 14y ago
  My first thought when I saw it.
- orionmystery 14y ago
  Yes, that's what I thought too when I photographed that beautiful lacewing. The marking really resembled a jumping spider!!! kurt (orionmystery)
DanBC 14y ago
Maybe they look like big eyes, which make the bug look like a bigger animal. But this national geographic magazine seems to doubt that theory: (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/080222-butterfly-eyespots.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/080222-butte...)

maratd 14y ago

> Does anyone want to speculate on the evolutionary reason behind that interesting pattern on its back? More than likely, it's a sexual display/indicator without any "practical" purpose related to survival. Like a peacock's tail. If you're really interested in evolutionary biology, read Darwin's original work. You'll be surprised to learn that most adaptations have little to do with survival.

1as 14y ago
Perhaps I'm niggling, but even adaptations which evolve by sexual selection have everything to do with survival.
- graue 14y ago
  Genetic survival, yes. Survival of the individual, no.

spitx 14y ago

Something akin to the evolution of the peppered moth, perhaps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution But then again, the "original experiments behind the peppered moth story" were known to have "widely acknowledged flaws." http://www.truthinscience.org.uk/tis2/index.php/component/content/article/127.html http://www.truthinscience.org.uk/tis2/index.php/component/co...

SoftwareMaven 14y ago

My son and I both thought it looked like a spider on its wings. Maybe it's a trick to make predators think it already got caught.

malkia 14y ago
My first thought when I saw it.
orionmystery 14y ago
Yes, that's what I thought too when I photographed that beautiful lacewing. The marking really resembled a jumping spider!!! kurt (orionmystery)

DanBC 14y ago

Maybe they look like big eyes, which make the bug look like a bigger animal. But this national geographic magazine seems to doubt that theory: (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/080222-butterfly-eyespots.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/080222-butte...)