Appearance of food Aggressive mimicry

the alligator snapping turtle uses tongue lure fish.

many aggressive mimics use promise of nourishment way of attracting prey. alligator snapping turtle (macrochelys temminckii) well-camouflaged ambush predator. tongue bears conspicuous pink extension resembles worm , can wriggled around; fish try eat worm eaten turtle. similarly, snakes employ caudal luring (using tail) or lingual luring (using tongue) entice small vertebrates striking range.

argiope argentata , web

aggressive mimicry common amongst spiders, both in luring prey , stealthily approaching predators. 1 case golden orb weaver (nephila clavipes), spins conspicuous golden colored web in well-lit areas. experiments show bees able associate webs danger when yellow pigment not present, occurs in less well-lit areas web harder see. other colors learned , avoided, bees seemed least able associate yellow pigmented webs danger. yellow color of many nectar bearing flowers, however, perhaps avoiding yellow not worth while. form of mimicry based not on color pattern. species such argiope argentata employ prominent patterns in middle of webs, such zigzags. these may reflect ultraviolet light, , mimic pattern seen in many flowers known nectar guides. spiders change web day day, can explained bees ability remember web patterns. bees able associate pattern spatial location, meaning spider must spin new pattern regularly or suffer diminishing prey capture.

the bright leaves of venus flytrap (dionaea muscipula) attract insects in same way flowers.

spiders can prey of aggressive mimics. assassin bug stenolemus bituberus preys on spiders, entering web , plucking silk threads until spider approaches. vibrational aggressive mimicry matches general pattern of vibrations spiders treat prey, having similar temporal structure , amplitude leg , body movements of typical prey caught in web.

although plants better known defensive mimicry, there exceptions. example, many flowers use mimicry attract pollinators, while others may trick insects dispersing seeds. nonetheless, mimicry in plants not classified aggressive, although luring pollinators similar cases above, not eaten plant. carnivorous plants may able increase rate of capture through mimicry. example, have patterns in ultraviolet region of electromagnetic spectrum, spider webs described above.

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