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Difficulty: Very hardStructural Adaptations for Survival: Coloration, Camouflage, and Mimicry

In a forest community, harmless hoverflies (*Sphaerophoria scripta*) possess yellow and black abdominal stripes closely resembling those of stinging yellowjacket wasps (*Vespula maculifrons*), while typical peppered moths (*Biston betularia*) display speckled grey wings matching lichen growing on tree bark. Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes the adaptive survival mechanism of the hoverfly from that of the peppered moth?

  1. The hoverfly demonstrates Batesian mimicry by adopting the warning signals of a dangerous model organism, whereas the peppered moth demonstrates cryptic coloration by matching the visual texture of its environment.Answer
  2. B
    The hoverfly demonstrates cryptic coloration to blend into flower petals, whereas the peppered moth demonstrates warning coloration to advertise its distastefulness to predatory birds.
  3. C
    The hoverfly exhibits aposematism by producing stinging toxins, whereas the peppered moth exhibits protective mimicry by copying the physical shape of tree bark.
  4. D
    Both the hoverfly and the peppered moth exhibit protective mimicry, as both species copy specific living biological models present in their habitat.

Answer

The hoverfly demonstrates Batesian mimicry by adopting the warning signals of a dangerous model organism, whereas the peppered moth demonstrates cryptic coloration by matching the visual texture of its environment.
The correct response accurately identifies that hoverflies engage in Batesian mimicry while peppered moths rely on cryptic coloration. Batesian mimicry occurs when a harmless species (the mimic) evolves to resemble a harmful, toxic, or unpalatable species (the model) to gain protection from predators. In contrast, cryptic coloration (camouflage) involves morphological adaptations in body color or shape that allow an organism to blend into its abiotic or background environment, preventing visual recognition by predators.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the evolutionary adaptation of the hoverfly.
The hoverfly is a palatable, harmless insect that displays yellow and black abdominal banding identical to the dangerous yellowjacket wasp. This adaptation deceives predators into mistaking the harmless fly for a stinging wasp, which defines Batesian mimicry.
Mimicry requires a mimic copying a distinct model organism to benefit from the predator's learned avoidance of that model.
2
Analyze the evolutionary adaptation of the peppered moth.
The peppered moth has a speckled wing coloration that matches lichen on tree trunks, enabling it to blend into the background substrate and remain unseen by visual predators, which defines cryptic coloration (camouflage).
Cryptic coloration relies on matching inanimate or background surroundings to minimize contrast and evade detection.
3
Compare and distinguish between the two adaptation mechanisms.
Hoverflies rely on deceiving predators by resembling another species (mimicry), whereas peppered moths rely on concealing themselves against their non-living background (camouflage).
Maintaining the strict scientific distinction between protective mimicry and cryptic coloration is fundamental to evolutionary biology.

Key Concept

Distinction between Mimicry and Cryptic Coloration
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Topics

Structural Adaptations for Survival: Coloration, Camouflage, and Mimicry

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