Multi-trait aposematic signal in Batesian mimicry

Batesian mimics can parasitize Müllerian mimicry rings mimicking the warning color signal. The evolutionary success of Batesian mimics can increase adding complexity to the signal by behavioral and locomotor mimicry. We investigated three fundamental morphological and locomotor traits in a Neotropical mimicry ring based on Ithomiini butterflies and parasitized by Polythoridae damselflies: wing color, wing shape, and flight style. The study species have wings with a subapical white patch, considered the aposematic signal, and a more apical black patch. The main predators are VS-birds, visually more sensitive to violet than to ultraviolet wavelengths (UVS-birds). The white patches, compared to the black patches, were closer in the bird color space, with higher overlap for VS-birds than for UVS-birds. Using a discriminability index for bird vision, the white patches were more similar between the mimics and the model than the black patches. The wing shape of the mimics was closer to the mod...

贝茨拟态（Batesian mimicry）者可寄生于缪氏拟态环（Müllerian mimicry ring），通过模仿警戒色信号实现拟态。贝茨拟态者的演化成功可通过行为与运动拟态进一步提升信号的复杂性。本研究针对一个以绡蝶族（Ithomiini）蝴蝶为类群、被综蜻科（Polythoridae）豆娘寄生的新热带区拟态环，探究了三项核心的形态与运动特征：翅色、翅形与飞行方式。研究对象的翅膀带有被视为警戒信号（aposematic signal）的亚顶端白色斑块，以及更靠顶端的黑色斑块。其主要天敌为紫光敏感型鸟类（violet-sensitive birds，VS-birds），这类鸟类对紫光的视觉敏感度高于紫外光（ultraviolet-sensitive birds，UVS-birds）。相较于黑色斑块，在鸟类颜色空间中，白色斑块间的相似度更高，且紫光敏感型鸟类的斑块重叠度高于紫外光敏感型鸟类。通过鸟类视觉辨别度指数分析，拟态者与模型物种的白色斑块相似度高于黑色斑块。拟态者的翅形更接近模型……