Scientists have discovered the rare and ancient descendants of caterpillars in Hawaii wearing the “bone” of insects as a form of camouflage.
Researchers from Hawaii University at Manoa give their discoveries on paper. Published Thursday in science, Caterpillar – which they have dubbed “Bone Collector” – the disguise that is hidden in the web of the spider, which can be a victim of other small insects that are stuck inside. Unfortunately, the continuous survival of a unique caterpillar is probably under a threat because it is well known that there is only one mountain on Hawaii Island.
The caterpillar is a larvae of butterflies and butterflies, which are members of the Lepidoptera insects. These insects tend to eat plants on plants, with less than 0.13% of butterflies that are well -known to eat meat. (The lowest percentage of any insect order); Only causing abnormal worms However, his lifestyle is a stranger.
The researchers brought Daniel Rubinoff and his team have studied Hawaii insects for decades, especially the caterpillars and moths in the Hyposmocoma genus. He helped many different species of caterpillars in HyposmoComa, which is currently more than 350 species that are discovered to the present. These descent are usually different from the type of moving in case they produce to protect themselves until they fully grow. However, until now, they and other scientists have found only one species of caterpillars that belong to the bones.
According to the names that are recommended, these butterfly caterpillars are attached to the insect parts – usually, food scraps, spider -throwing spider spider skins to the outside of the silk cage. From this cage, Caterpillars SUALLEY SCAVENGE or Prey on a bad insect that is unlucky enough to be applied to the spider's website. (In general, the web is found in Tree Hollow and Rock Crevices). Camo seems to be effectively hiding them from spider as the team has never found evidence of a butterfly worm that is eaten by the owner of Arachnid.
“In terms of ecology, it seems as if they live in a lion cave. They hide in the cave of Sompo.” But that is fun about the evolution. It doesn't do what you expect just because we have these expectations that are always incorrect. We think life is the same everywhere.
Rubinoff met with these caterpillars for the first time in 2008, although his research was lost with a consistent fund. At that time, he and others met bone collectors living in the forest area of 10 miles (16 kilometers) in the Waiʻanae mountain range on Oʻahu Island. -Three million years before the true form of the island that they live in today That shows that these insects are widely distributed on an older island again, with ancestors coming to Oʻahu later only.
There may be many factors behind the contraction of the caterpillar, such as deforestation and other human disruption, but the largest reason for the decline of butterfly worms is probably the introduction of non -invading species of native speakers to the islands according to the Rubinoff.
“The thing that really killed us is that we have these forest reserves, most of which are invaded species now and they become biological deserts because every tree is a group of things from around the world. Insects are brought in other worlds.”
The caterpillar can adapt to these changes, as they can be side by side and deceive the spider species that are not successful native speakers. But with their small distribution, we can see very well on the last day of this ancient lineage soon. If so, it will be another example of Hawaii that is “Extremely extinct capital. “ Of the world.
“This is the last type of all this lineage and that is a little sad to think about it amazing that they are still hanging there. But we do more to help them, “Rubinoff said.
Rubinoff hopes that his team's research can stimulate more resources and funds dedicated to savings and studying these unique insects.
We want to understand the basis of genomes for how these worms are aware of the world because it is unbelievable that they can see various parts of these bodies from the remains they live in. They know that they are large.