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Abstract

Understanding predator-prey interactions offers insight into ecological dynamics and the selective pressures shaping traits that drive adaptive strategies. Aposematism is a well-established defense mechanism that combines conspicuous coloration with unpalatable chemical deterrents. This strategy is particularly effective against visually oriented avian predators, yet less is known about arthropods and mammals, which rely on other sensory cues. This study seeks to broaden the understanding of the effectiveness of aposematism by examining whether warning coloration in caterpillars will deter predation by birds, mammals, and arthropods. To achieve this, plasticine caterpillars representing cryptic (brown) and aposematic (yellow) phenotypes were deployed to trees in Logan Canyon, Utah. Predation marks were recorded and categorized by predator type. All observed attacks were attributed to arthropods, with no significant difference in attack rate between the two phenotypes. These results suggest that visual warning signs may not be sufficient to deter predators in this context. Notably, arthropods rely on olfactory and chemical cues, which were absent from the plasticine models. Overall, our findings highlight that the protective value of aposematism largely depends on predator sensory ecology, habitat context, and temporal effects. Future studies could expand across seasons and ecosystems to investigate this defense mechanism more comprehensively.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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