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Colorful caterpillars

Colorful caterpillars

This red, white and black caterpillar, is sending a precise visual message to whoever observes it and distinguishes its coloration: the combination of red, white and black usually means poisonous, stinging, indigestible or of unpleasant flavor and scent. So it is better not to try to hunt it or eat it.

Aspect or color of animals transmit clear visual messages to whoever observes them. The case of this caterpillar is clear. Potential predators are allowed to watch it without problems because they avoid to pray on an animal whose colors they associate with something dangerous or unpleasant.

This type of coloration is called Aposematic, mening that certain colors or combinations of these are typical of poisonous or stinging animals. Red, yellow and black, like in the coral snakes; Black and yellow as in the wasps, bees and caterpillars of Monarch butterflies are some examples.

Certain animals are able to imitate or mimic these, by acquiring the right color combinations through natural genetic selection. This is known as Batesian mimicry, and it consists on seeming dangerous without really being such. Predators which know the color code will not pray on them.

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