Insects

Camouflage

Camouflage—also known as crypsis—provides insects the ability to blend in with their surroundings in order to protect themselves from predators. Various types of insects employ numerous methods of concealment and disguise based on their environment as well as natural selection. Some camouflage strategies include using markings to match the color and pattern of the background, while others require insects to change their color to match their background, allowing the organisms to blend in and remain hidden from predators.

While all camouflage serves to disguise insects from their prey, there are various and specific types of camouflage. According to M. Stevens and S. Merrilaita, there are six main types of camouflage: (1) background matching, in which the insect visually matches its surroundings; (2) self-shadow concealment, in which the creation of shadows is cancelled out by countershading; (3) obliterative shading, which obstructs an insect's detection using a three-dimensional form; (4) disruptive coloration, in which the insect's markings give the appearance of false edges and boundaries, which obstructs the recognition of an object's true shape or form; (5) flicker-fusion camouflage, in which markings such as stripes confuse a predator by blurring the insect during motion and matching the insect's surroundings; and (6) distractive markings, which direct the “attention” of the predator from traits that would give away the type of insect (such as the outline of the insect).

Mimicry

While it is similar to camouflage, mimicry does not simply allow insects to hide from predators but instead allows the insect to look like another, less palatable insect or organism. According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, mimicry, by definition, is the insect's ability to imitate another organism or thing; it is a superficial resemblance of one organism to another, which provides protection from attack. For insects, mimicry serves as a swindle or a cheat to deter against predators.

Currently, there are three recognized types of mimicry: Batesian mimicry, Mullerian mimicry, and aggressive mimicry. In 1862, Henry Bates closely studied the phenomenon of insect mimicry and proposed that the model (the insect being mimicked) uses poisonous fluid or a stinger to deter prey. Bates posited that vulnerable or unprotected insects mimic potentially dangerous insects to deter and threaten predators, a concept more prominently known as Batesian mimicry.

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