Tricky Insects: Insights into Evolution

Whether it’s for mating, self-defense, or finding a meal, insects have evolved in surprising ways.

Thanks to Tony Spagnuolo, Calcutt Middle School, Central Falls, RI, for this installment’s origin.

Membracidae- The “thorn mimic”

https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/17034758

https://www.si.edu/stories/beautiful-and-bizarre-treehopper

Bird droppings? Nope, clever moths and caterpillars

https://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2021/8/9/bird-droppings-nope-clever-moths-and-caterpillars-looking-like-poop-beautiful-wood-nymph-eastern-tiger-swallowtail-black-swallowtail-red-spotted-purple

Crafty Caterpillar Puts Flowers on Back

https://twistedsifter.com/2012/05/wavy-lined-emerald-moth-camouflaged-looper-info-pics/

https://roadsendnaturalist.com/tag/camouflaged-looper/

 

The hawkmoth: These critters mimic snakes

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2254257/The-caterpillars-mimic-snakes-grow-spiky-spines-eat-toxic-flowers--predators-away.html

How about twigs?

http://www.urbanwildlifeguide.net/2013/05/twig-mimic-caterpillar.html

https://www.tcpalm.com/story/life/columnists/carol-cloud-bailey/2020/07/29/those-little-clusters-twigs-your-house-and-trees-actually-caterpillars-port-st-lucie-stuart-vero/5517313002/

The Giraffe Weevil

https://www.madamagazine.com/en/der-giraffenhalskaefer/

https://www.sfzoo.org/giraffe-weevil/

The Amazonian ant species Allomerus is monogamous, likes only one food, and builds traps

https://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/trap-building-ants.php

https://whyfiles.org/shorties/177ant_traps/

 

Can You Find The Mimics In America's Largest Insect Collection?

https://www.npr.org/2018/04/03/598240941/video-can-you-find-the-imposter-bugs-in-americas-largest-insect-collection

Grand Challenge: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe

Grand Challenge: Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet

STEM, STEAM, STEMX, STEMD and beyond..


ERC Grand Challenges: For project design, for inquiry, for activism.