1981] 
Steiner — Anti-predator Strategies 
21 
exposure of colorful wings (flash behavior) and sudden return to 
crypticity upon landing, these insects show freezing, often in odd 
postures, with the colorful wings and dark markings (“eyespots”?) 
prominently exposed. Such postures also reduce access to the 
vulnerable ventral surface usually stung by these wasps (obstruction 
behavior). After contact with the wasp a second line of defense 
comes into effect such as kicking, brushing and pushing actions. In 
addition to these hind-leg based defenses, the attacked prey can also 
use mouth-based defenses: biting and / or regurgitating a repelling, 
perhaps even noxious, fluid (“tobacco juice”). Such defenses pre- 
sumably lower the probability of capture or at least increase the cost 
to the predator and have therefore a selective value. 
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