TO SURVIVE you have to mimic other species

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If it Looks Like an Ant and Smells Like an Ant… Batesian Mimicry in the Amazon Jungle

Over 150 years ago, in the steamy jungle of the Amazon Rainforest, the explorer and naturalist Henry Walter Bates was watching two different butterflies fly side-by-side. He had discovered that one was poisonous, which would make any predator sick if it was eaten. He also knew that the other lacked any poison defense.

The reason Bates was watching them so closely was that, despite being different species and only one being poisonous, the butterflies looked almost exactly alike.

In the animal kingdom, it is s best to advertise you are poisonous before the predator has to eat you to find out, for obvious reasons. This is why many poisonous animals advertise their defenses with bright coloration. Predators then quickly learn to beware of certain patterns and combinations of colors. But of course, this only works if the animal is actually poisonous.

So, what about our non-poisonous butterfly? Well, this is exactly what Bates was thinking as well.

His theory was that the harmless species wanted to trick predators into thinking it was also poisonous. And he was right.

Batesian mimicry in the Amazon..

Now a well-known phenomenon, Batesian mimicry (named after Bates) is when a non-harmful species copies the appearance of a harmful species. These non-harmful mimics trick predators into avoiding them as well, without needing to be poisonous or otherwise harmful themselves. (Batesian mimicry in the Amazon)

The most familiar animals we know of that mimic other species in this way include hoverflies that imitate wasps and bees, milk snakes that are patterned like venomous coral snakes, and certain caterpillars that seem to resemble snakeheads.

But some species that are great models for mimicry, because of their harmful nature to would-be-predators, don’t have actually have a showy and colorful appearance.

Ant-mimicking-jumping-spider-at-the-Peruvian-Amazon

Ant-mimicking jumping spider (Myrmarachne sp.) from Tambopata Research Center photographed by Paul Bertner.

Ants, for example, are often dominant insects in an environment. With their vast numbers, biting jaws, and painful stings, many animals quickly learn to stay out of an ant’s way or else face the threat of the colony.

Even the Biblical Solomon recognized the benefit of copying ants. He exclaimed, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise.” – Proverbs 6:6

 

And some species have had this very idea.

 

Many bugs and spiders are now known to look like ants. By doing so, they trick their would-be-predators into avoiding them for fear of being attacked by the colony. For example, a well-studied genus of jumping spider is so good at ant-mimicry that the entire genus was named Myrmarachne. Myrm is from the Greek word for ant (think of the Myrmidons led by Achilles in Greek mythology, resembling ants as they swarmed the beaches), and arachne from the Greek word for spider.

 

Just as Solomon was referring to an ant’s behavior, we now know that animals not only mimic the ant’s appearance, but also how they hold their antennae and how they move.

 

This is all very well and good if you want to trick visual predators into thinking you’re an ant. But what if you wanted to trick the ants themselves?

 

Although some ants are quite visual, most ants live in a world dominated by smells, which are known as pheromones. If they encountered an animal that simply looked like an ant but didn’t smell like an ant, the con artist would quickly be discovered.

 

It just so happens that some mimics trick the ants themselves instead of potential predators. These species may not look like an ant to you or me, but to an ant investigating the stranger, they are accepted as a member of the colony. These species have managed to fool the ants by copying their chemical pheromones.

 

But why, you ask?

 

Unfortunately for the ants, animals often want to trick them in order to gain valuable access to the nest to eat their eggs, such as some members of the spider genus Cosmophasis. Other species copy the ant pheromones to create an army of duped ants protecting and caring for the mimic’s every need, as is the case for certain Lycaenid butterflies.

 

You can see the colorful butterflies, jumping spiders, ants, and mimics in Peru’s remarkable Tambopata National Reserve.

 

So remember, things may not always be as they seem in the wonderful world of biodiversity. If it looks like an ant, smells like an ant, or behaves like an ant, it might just be a spider…

 

 

By Ash Card

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This trip was the highlight of our travels through peru. The lodge was absolutely 5 stars for everything. The room, food, people. We had a private guide, Allen, who grew up locally and really had deep knowledge of the land, the history, and the variety of plant and animal species in the jungle. His knowledge and passion were invaluable to our experience. There are a variety of tour companies and lodges you can book to visit the Amazon, however, I would only recommend Rainforest Expeditions as they are truly connected to the community and offer high quality first class amazon experience! Read all

We had a truly wonderful stay with Rainforest Expeditions. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming, and our guide was fantastic — very knowledgeable and passionate about the rainforest. We saw many animals, even from the boat, which made the experience unforgettable. Read all

I just spent 3 days here with my family. The research center surpassed all our expectations. I want to give a special shout out to Carlos who took such good care of us. He went above and beyond to make sure we werr comfortable. And he was always smiling. He made us feel so welcome. We had Erik as our guide who is so knowledgeable and experienced. We learned so much, saw so much wildlife. It really was a dream vacation. Thank you!! Read all

Chose this place to stay at the Amazon, as I heard it benefits the local indigenous community. Life changing experience. Oscar was an excellent guide! We saw so many wildlife! No 4th wall made it such an immersive jungle experience. Since they are eco friendly, there is no AC. It can get pretty hot depending on the season. So better to follow their guidance for clothing choices Read all

If you want to experience the Amazon in all its glory This is the place to come to Staff and guides were excellent Food was just incredible The forest walks were really interesting and informative Read all

If you are a birder, ask for Juan Carlos Yatto. He recognizes an astounding number of bird calls and can duplicate many of them. This place is magical, all I could have imagined. All the staff and scientists are incredible. The experience of a lifetime. Read all

This was the most amazing experience Very well organised The ground staff were so well organised The guides were excellent ( I’m looking at you Carlos!) Food was tasty and very varied Amazed that the chefs managed to get such variety in the middle of the Amazon Do not hesitate Book immediately you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended Read all

I can not say enough good things about my time at the Tambopata Research Center. Between the guides, the boat drivers, the chefs, the staff, the bartenders, the researchers, etc. Everyone was absolutely wonderful! If you are interested in viewing wildlife in the Amazon, this is the place for you! A special thank you to the maître d' Carlos who was so incredibly kind and hospitable and our guide Dino who was like a real life Indiana Jones. I can't wait to come back! Read all

An unforgettable, fully immersive jungle experience. Amazing how Tambopata Lodge delivers luxury touches in such a remote and rugged location. The food is fantastic, the staff incredible, and the wildlife sightings non-stop. The personalised itinerary and one-on-one guiding made the trip truly special—huge thanks to our guide Johan for sharing his passion and knowledge. The Macaw Project is inspiring, and it’s clear the lodge fully supports this important conservation work. Manager Brian was always kind, helpful. Well-done all involved. Read all

The most important fact we are grateful for is the true sense of understanding of the ecology of the Amazon the staff at Rainforest Expeditions (RFE) have shown us. RFE stands out for its stand against the pure, profit-motive initiatives many other tour operators do. We are very grateful to have had Carlos as our guide. Carlos is deeply dedicated, and is able to explain the nuances of the flora and fauna. The world today needs to act as one against the impact of climate change. RFE is one, bright shining light in this regard. Read all

We had a fabulous trip! The people were amazing, kind and very professional. The food was exceptionally good! The facilities are beautiful and well kept. We just loved our second time with Rainforest Expeditions and can't wait to go again!! Read all

Fantastic to be deep in the forest surrounded by incredible wildlife with our amazing guide Juan Carlos Yatto, who really knew his stuff! Also his photography skills meant that we could share our experience even better through his telescope using our phone cameras! We learned so much!! He went to extra lengths to find butterflies and moths for us along with so many different birds and monkeys. This was a travel highlight for us as experienced wildlife travellers. We loved our spacious room with no windows and open to more wildlife visitors but after 5 nights the bed could have been a little more comfortable. Luckily we had a second bed to use. Otherwise it was fantastic with hot water showers and fresh drinking water all the time. We were amazed at the variety of food on offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner and couldn’t believe they could have such a wonderful food offering in such a remote location. Even the wine and cocktails were great. I highly recommend spending the extra money and time getting to this location. We stayed at another lodge later which was closer to Puerto Maldonado and there was far less wildlife. Read all

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