BIO 385 — Invertebrate Zoology
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Invertebrate Diversity
Phylum Arthropoda
Protective Coloration in Insects
(And Some Arachnids)


Return to Main Arthropod Page


Crypsis (Camouflage)

Background Matching

Oakleaf Grasshopper
Oak-leaf Grasshopper, Tomonotus ferruginosus; AZ
grasshopper
Toothed Dune Grasshopper, Trimerotropis agrestis
Rough Stink Bug
Rough Stink Bug, Brochymena sp.; AZ
Gray Moth
Brown-shaded Gray Moth, Iridopsis defectaria; AZ
Noctuid Moth
Noctuid Moth, (Family Noctuidae); AZ
Pine Borer
Virginia Flat-headed Pine Borer, Chalcophora virginiensis; KY
stinkbug
Green Stinkbug, Acrosternum hilare; NY

Mimesis (Object Matching)

katydid
Leaf-mimicking Katydid, Arantia sp.; Kenya
walkingstick
Northern Walkingstick, Diapheromera femorata, male; NY
Stick Mantis
Stick Mantid, Ischnomantis sp.; Kenya
Treehopper
Treehopper, Campylenchia sp., a thorn mimic; AZ
Velvet Ant
Thistledown Velvet Ant, Dasymutilla gloriosa, mimics Creosote bush fruit (inset); AZ
Admiral Caterpillar
Admiral Caterpillar, Limenitis sp., looks like a bird dropping; WY

Disruptive Coloration

Bold patterns and unusual shapes can break up the normal outline and make the animal's shape harder to pick out

Tiger Moth
Parthenice Tiger Moth, Grammia parthenice; KY
Cholla Moth
Staghorn Cholla Moth, Euscirrhopterus cosyra; AZ
Platystomatid Fly
Platystomatid Fly, Rivellia sp.; KY
Trupanea Fruit Fly
Fruit Fly, Trupanea sp.; AZ
Zebra Longwing
Zebra Longwing, Heliconius charitonius
Common Whitetail
Common Whitetail, Libellula lydia, female; KY
Tortoise Beetle
Tortoise Beetle, Aspidomorpha sp.; Kenya 		Checkered Beetle
Ornate Checkered Beetle, Trichodes ornatus; AZ
Unusual shapes and irregular edges can also disguise shapes:
American Snout
American Snout Butterfly, Libytheana carinenta; KY 		Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma, Polygonia comma; NY

Deflection Displays

Distinctive markings distract and misdirect predators away from vital structures toward more expendable parts

Leda Ministreak
Leda Ministreak, Ministrymon leda; AZ — Note eye spot and antenna-like tails on hindwing 		Painted Lady
Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui; TX — eyespots and other bright markings along edge of wings can deflect predator attacks away from main body
Emperor Swallowtail
Central Emperor Swallowtail, Papilio lormeri; Kenya — The tails and markings of swallowtail butterflies can deflect predator attacks to the rear 		Unid Caterpillar
The false head at the posterior end of this unidentified caterpillar may deflect predator attacks (the real head is at right); Kenya

Startle Displays

Eyespots or similar bright markings that can be suddenly revealed to startle potential predators

Io Moth
Io Moth, Automeris io; KY 		1-eye Sphinx
One-eyed Sphinx Moth, Smerinthus cerisyi; AZ

Aposematism (& Müllerian Mimicry)

Rainbow Grasshopper
Rainbow Grasshopper, Dactylotum bicolor; AZ 		6 Spotted Milkweed Bug
Six-spotted Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus sexmaculatus; KY
Milkweed Beetle
Red-femored Milkweed Beetle, Tetraopes femoratus; UT 		Lady Beetle
Convergent Lady Beetle, Hippodamia convergens; AZ
Banded Netwing
Banded Netwing, Calopteron terminale; KY 		Tarantula Hawk
Tarantula Hawk, Pepsis thisbe; AZ
Mason Wasp
Mason Wasp, Ancistrocerus sp.; NY 		Vespid Wasp
Vespid Wasp; NY

Batesian Mimicry

Aposematic Models

Palatable Mimics

False Bombardier
False Bombardier Beetle, Galeritula bicolor?; KY 		Fire-colored Beetle
Fire-colored Beetle, Neopyrochroa sp.; KY
Pipevine Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor; NY 		Red-spotted Purple
Red-spotted Purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax; KY
Monarch Butterfly
Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus; NJ 		Viceroy
Viceroy Butterfly, Limenitis archippus; CO
Layman Butterfly
Layman Butterfly, Amauris albimaculata; Kenya 		Diadem
Variable Diadem, Hypolimnas anthedon; Kenya
Yellowjacket
Eastern Yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons; KY 		Locust Borer
Locust Borer, Megacyllene robiniae; NY
Field Ant
Field Ant, Formica sp.; KY 		Ant-mimic Bug
Ant-mimic Bug, Hyalymenus sp.; KY
Velvet Ant
Velvet Ant, Dasymutilla sp. (actually a wingless wasp); CA 		Jumping Spider
Jumping Spider, Phidippus sp.; AZ
Sweat Bee
Sweat Bee, Halictus sp.; AZ 		Flower Fly
Flower Fly, Scaeva pyrastri; AZ
Bumblebee
Bumblebee, Bombus sp.; NE 		Hummingbird Moth
Hummingbird Moth, Hemaris thysbe; CT
vine snake
Vine Snake, Ahaetulla prasina 		Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Vine Hawkmoth Caterpillar, Hippotion celerio; Kenya (this represents a general snake mimicry, not of the specific model shown)

Aggressive Mimicry

Mimicry or mimesis used to lure in prey

Flower Mantid
Common Spiny Flower Mantid, Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi; Kenya
This mantid's coloration matches common flowers that attract pollinators 		Elaea Mantid
Boxing Mantid nymph, Oxypilus burri; Kenya
Assasin bug
Assasin bug, Pselliopus sp.; AZ
The flower-like colors may lure in its insect prey, but may also be cryptic to avoid its own predators 		Threadlegged Bug
Thread-legged Bug, Emesaya sp.; AZ
This bug uses its stick-like appearance to stalk its prey
Spiny Orbweaver
Spiny Orbweaver, Gasteracantha rhomboidea; Grand Comoro
The bright colors of spiny orbweaver spiders are thought to attract pollinating insects to their web. 		Crab Spider
White-banded Crab Spider, Misumenoides formosipes; AZ
The bright yellow color can attract insects seeking flowers
This page last updated 24 September 2022 by Udo M. Savalli ()
Images and text © Udo M. Savalli. All rights reserved.