But why undertake this elaborate millinery? One study published in 2016 investigated this question by holding trials involving the caterpillars and their natural predators — spiders and stink bugs. The researchers found that attacks on larvae with a stack of headcases took more than 10 times longer than attacks on larvae that had had their stack removed. They found that the empty head capsules acted as a false target for predators and could also be used to deflect the piercing rostrum of a predator.
Comment on the mad hatter
watersnipje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
That doesn’t make sense, caterpillars don’t mate. So why have a display like this? Or does this scare off predators somehow?
rowrowrowyourboat@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
watersnipje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Oh really cool, thank you!
tdawg@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Put a stack of decaying skin on your head and see how appetizing you look to predators
watersnipje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Yeah, fair. Maybe it’s just like that lizard that squirts blood out of its eyes and predators just go “EESH WTF”
PapaStevesy@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Maybe it does nothing and evolution just never selected against it.
watersnipje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
It’s possible. Seems like it would at least change visibility to predators though. Or make it harder for the caterpillar to hide. Interesting!
Deceptichum@quokk.au 3 weeks ago
Image