Fireflies thwart bat attack with multisensory warnings

Leavell, Brian C.; Rubin, Juliette J.; McClure, Christopher J. W.; Miner, Krystie A.; Branham, Marc; Barber, Jesse R.

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aat6601

Cited by 37 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Each of these orders, with the exception of Mantodea, contains examples of species utilizing a chemical defense of some kind (Eisner et al, 2005). Intraspecific variation in host plant chemical defenses as well as multiple host plant affiliations in some groups could generate intraspecific differences in chemical protection, potentially explaining some of the variation in nonchalance both among and within a variety of insect species, such as the recently reported nonchalant flight in fireflies in response to foraging bats (Leavell et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonchalant Flight in Tiger Moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) Is Correlated With Unpalatability

Dowdy

Conner

2019

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Many aposematic animals are well-known to exhibit generally sluggish movements. However, less is known about their escape responses when under direct threat of predation. In this study, we characterize the anti-bat escape responses of 5 species of tiger moth (Erebidae: Arctiinae), a subfamily of Lepidoptera which possess ultrasound-sensitive ears. These ears act as an early-warning system which can detect the ultrasonic cries of nearby echolocating bats, allowing the moths to enact evasive flight behaviors in an effort to escape predation. We examine the role that unpalatability plays in predicting the likelihood that individuals of a given species will enact escape behaviors in response to predation. We hypothesized that more unpalatable species would be less likely to exhibit escape maneuvers (i.e., more nonchalant) than their less unpalatable counterparts. Our results demonstrate significant interspecific variation in the degree to which tiger moths utilize evasive flight behaviors to escape bat predators as well as in their degree of unpalatability. We provide evidence for the existence of a nonchalance continuum of anti-bat evasive flight response among tiger moths and show that species are arrayed along this continuum based on their relative unpalatability to bat predators. Relatively unpalatable prey more often exhibit nonchalant flight behaviors whereas palatable prey more often employ evasive dives. Our findings demonstrate that the degree to which certain animals are protected by potent chemical defenses can influence the likelihood that they will exhibit evasive escape behaviors. Further, we argue that the bat-moth predator-prey system is an ideal model for future studies of escape behaviors of prey which overcomes some of the limitations inherent to current model systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonchalant Flight in Tiger Moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) Is Correlated With Unpalatability

Dowdy

Conner

2019

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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“…Even though the conspicuous visual displays of fireflies offer ample opportunity for bats to depredate them, this prey is absent in their diets (Moosman, Cratsley, Lehto, & Thomas, ). Evidence that bats are deterred from consuming fireflies (Moosman et al, ; Vencl et al, ) and can quickly learn to avoid attacking them (Leavell et al, ) supports the long‐standing, but previously untested, hypothesis that the flashing signals fireflies produce for intraspecific communication also serve as aposematic signals to deter predators like bats. Investigations that identify the role that bats may have played in constraining the signals and displays of nocturnal invertebrates that avoid them would be valuable to further understand the intricate ways in which predators shape the communication systems of their prey.…”

Section: Private Information Usementioning

confidence: 91%

The challenge of detecting prey: Private and social information use in predatory bats

Page

Bernal

2019

Functional Ecology

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In the evolutionary arms race between predators and their prey, prey often evolve to be as cryptic as they can, while predators in turn hone their sensory strategies to detect prey. Examinations of the sensory strategies implemented by predators to detect their prey, as well as the ecological consequences of these interactions, are at the crux of understanding and predicting predator–prey dynamics. We review the sensory strategies used by predators that rely on private information (attending directly to cues and signals generated by their prey) and those that gather social information (attending to the signals and behaviours of others). We focus our enquiry on bats, an ideal group to shed light on these questions given their ecological diversity, varied foraging strategies and wide range of social behaviours. We discuss the costs and benefits of using private and social information for foraging. We investigate diverse strategies of information use and examine the effects different predatory strategies have on predator sensory systems. We provide an overview of the sensory ecology of information use in hunting in bats and, by identifying current gaps in knowledge, highlight fruitful directions for future research. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

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“…biting and stinging) in ants and termites. Nocturnal moths, lacewings, praying mantises and fireflies exhibit defensive morphologies and behaviors to escape from insectivorous bats (Miller & Olesen 1979;Leavell et al 2018;Rubin et al 2018). The flying adults of some moths, mantises and lacewings even have "ears" to detect the ultrasound produced by bats (Yack & Fullard 1999).…”

Section: Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predators as drivers of insect defenses

Sugiura

2020

Entomological Science

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Insects have evolved various types of antipredator defenses. For example, many insects have evolved crypsis, and exhibit cryptic body colors and shapes for hiding from predators. Other insects produce toxins as a form of chemical defense against predators, and some toxic insects are aposematic, with conspicuous body colors for advertising their toxins. Insects can also develop hairs, spines or hard exoskeletons as morphological defenses to protect themselves from predation. In addition, insects can evolve behavioral defenses, in which insects exhibit autotomy or dropping, or feign death. This study investigated which predator types evoke these types of defenses, through a review of the effectiveness of antipredator defenses in insects against carnivorous animals that are commonly used as model predators in studies. These predators include other insects, spiders, fish, frogs, lizards, birds and mammals. The results provide the first step for clarifying the evolutionary drivers of antipredator defenses in insects. The following aspects should be considered for future studies: multiple predator species and sufficient replication, alternative prey and predator models, and tolerance to predators in insects.

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Fireflies thwart bat attack with multisensory warnings

Abstract: Naïve bats learn to avoid noxious fireflies fastest when integrating bioluminescent and echo-derived warnings.

Cited by 37 publications

References 55 publications

Nonchalant Flight in Tiger Moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) Is Correlated With Unpalatability

Nonchalant Flight in Tiger Moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) Is Correlated With Unpalatability

The challenge of detecting prey: Private and social information use in predatory bats

Predators as drivers of insect defenses

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