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Question
A surprising number of insects on milkweed plants share the same red and black colors. Explain the specific reason
A surprising number of insects on milkweed plants share the same red and black colors. Explain the specific reason
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Solution
The correct option is B Mullerian mimicry
The red and black colours on insects are antipredatory warning signals called aposematism. Aposematism can be of many types, in the form of colours, sounds, smell etc. And the red and black colours on insects is a form of aposematism called Mullerian mimicry. Mullerian mimicry is a form of mimicry where insects develop similar colours as antipredatory warning signals. Milkweed plants contain toxic steroids, known as cardenolides, which are bitter-tasting. By feeding on milkweed as caterpillars these insects become unpalatable and they display their unpalatability through Mullerian mimicry. Batesian mimicry is when insects that are actually quite tasty mimic the unpalatable insects to fool the predators.
Mullerian mimicry
The red and black colours on insects are antipredatory warning signals called aposematism. Aposematism can be of many types, in the form of colours, sounds, smell etc. And the red and black colours on insects is a form of aposematism called Mullerian mimicry. Mullerian mimicry is a form of mimicry where insects develop similar colours as antipredatory warning signals. Milkweed plants contain toxic steroids, known as cardenolides, which are bitter-tasting. By feeding on milkweed as caterpillars these insects become unpalatable and they display their unpalatability through Mullerian mimicry. Batesian mimicry is when insects that are actually quite tasty mimic the unpalatable insects to fool the predators.
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