CONSIDERATIONS FROM STUDY OF INSECTS 251 



has the color of its immediate sur- 

 roundings, and is thus enabled to 

 seize its prey before the latter is 

 aware of its presence. Many other 

 examples could be given. 



Warning Coloration and Protective 

 Mimicry. Some insects are ex- 

 tremely unpleasant, both to smell or 

 to taste, while others are provided 

 with means of defense such as poison 

 hairs or stings. Such animals are 

 almost always brightly colored or 

 marked as if to warn animals to keep 

 off or take the consequences. Ex- 

 amples of insects which show warn- 

 ing by color may be seen in manj- 

 examples of beetles, especially the 

 spotted ladybirds, potato beetles, and 

 the like. Wasps show yellow bands, 

 while many forms of caterpillars are conspicuously marked or colored. 

 Some insects, especially caterpillars, are brightly colored and 

 protrude horns, or pretend to sting when threatened with attack. 

 These animals evidently mimic animals which really are protected 



by a sting or by poison, 

 although this mimicry 

 is not voluntary on 

 the part of the insect. 

 One of the best-known 

 cases of insect mim- 

 icry is seen in the case 

 of the imitation of the 

 monarch butterfly by 

 the viceroy. 



Mantis, showing aggressive re- 

 semblance. 



Monarch and viceroy butterflies : the latter (at the 

 right) is a mimic. 



The monarch but- 

 terfly (Anosia plexippus) is an example of a race which has 

 received protection from enemies in the struggle for life, because 

 of its nauseous taste and, perhaps, because its caterpillar feeds 

 on plants of no commercial value. 



