A recently discovered
G tridens fruitfly that has evolved a
to have images of detailed, ant-like insects on each wing, complete
with six legs, a thorax, antennae and a tapered abdomen. The fly uses
the images defensively, waving them back and forth when threatened to
create the illusion of massing ants. Many G Tridens varieties bear
elaborate wing markings, but this one,
discovered in Oman, is very striking. I think more beasties should have van-art bestowed on them by the strange world of evolution.
Dr Howarth first saw G tridens on an oleander shrub in northern Oman. "I
was looking at the stem of the leaves and I noticed that there were
some insects crawling around. When I sort of honed in I started to
notice what I thought was a couple of ants moving around."
At first she suspected an infestation on the fly's wings. "But it was so
symmetrical that I thought, 'oh this is not possible'. When I got it
under the microscope I realised that these were insects painted onto the
wings."
In contrast to its wings and brilliant green eyes, the fly's body is a
dull greenish grey - "almost cryptically coloured," says Dr Howarth -
that blends into the leaves where it is found.
When threatened, the fly flashes its wings to give the appearance of
ants walking back and forth. The predator gets confused and the fly zips
off.
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