PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE. 



677 



Fig. 543. Leaf insect (Phy- 

 lium). Half natural size. 



back. The caterpillars of the geometrid moths often won- 

 derfully mimic the stems of the plants they feed upon, in 



color and markings, even to the 

 warts and tubercles on their skin. 



As an example of possibly con- 

 scious mimicry or effort at conceal- 

 ing their nest from the search of 

 their enemies, may be cited the trap- 

 door spider observed by Moggridge 

 in Southern Europe. This spider 

 digs its hole among moss and small 

 ferns, and after the trap-door is 

 made the top is covered with growing 

 ferns, etc. , transplanted by the spider, 

 and the deception is so perfect that 

 Mr. Moggridge found it difficult to detect the position of 

 the closed trap, even when holding it in his hand. 



Mimicry of other insects is of 

 very frequent occurrence, certain 

 flies resembling bees in appearance 

 .and the sounds or buzzing they 

 make ; the Syrphus flies closely 

 imitate wasps. Fig. 545 illustrates 

 a case observed by Belt in Nicara- 

 gua, where a wasp (Priocnemis) is 

 mimicked by a hemipterous insect 

 (Spiniger luteocornis Walker, the 

 left-hand figure) in every part, 

 even to its vibrating, brown, semi- 

 transparent wings and its wasp-like 

 motions. Here the bug is evidently 

 protected by its resemblance to the 

 wasp, for whose ferocity and sharp 

 sting all unarmed insects have 

 great respect. 



Some butterflies are distasteful 

 to birds, and there are other but- 

 terflies which have no bad taste, but closely resemble in 

 color such species as are passed over by birds. Thus, 



Fig. 544. Stick insect. 



