By Ricky Hobbs MIMICRY NATURE ADAPTING FOR SURVIVAL. Building Memories - One Step at a Time

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1 B U I L D I N G M E M O R I E S By Ricky Hobbs MIMICRY NATURE ADAPTING FOR SURVIVAL Building Memories - One Step at a Time

2 Introduction Mimicry When my wife and I began to explore the forests of Arkansas, we saw very few wildlife and insects. But, after spending hundreds of hours in the forests we could begin to see things more differently. We became part of our environment as we noticed design and beauty of the wildflowers, the bark and leaf shapes of the trees, the animal trails, native indian trail markers left by bent trees, standing rocks, stacked rocks and the sounds of a distant waterfall or limbs breaking from a bear moving out of our path as we explored the forests. We would step over a small weed knowing it was to be a beautiful wildflower. We began to see deer blending into the open surroundings, a bird matching its surroundings, and a underwater walking stick remaining motionless in the water matching a stick. So, the animals were there but they would move ahead of us if we were making to much noise or they would remain motionless mimicking an object or their environment that is known by researchers as Mimicry. Now we understand their natural protections to mimic in their environment, their food sources, tracks and trails through the woods. Our appreciation for the Native Indians has increased as they have gone before us living on this delicate land, lived in natural shelters, used natural stones to form tools and left trails through natural markers. Now it seems we are greeted by birds, animals and all the beauty waiting for us to photograph. Take time to understand how animals mimic their environment and walk with an appreciation for their existence, they will sense that you mean them no harm and they will enjoy your presence as much as you enjoy theirs. Mimicry It is best explained by an animal or insect to use its appearance, sounds, behavior or shape to resemble an inanimate object or it s environment. Animals survive from predators by use of mimicry. We continue our definition and explanation of mimicry with examples below that we have noticed in nature. However, we realize there are many more examples that we have yet to explore and understand, but this article should provide a sufficient explanation for you to build your own understanding of your environment and mimicry. 1

Mimicry in Snakes We saw a Northern Water Snake mimicking a piece of bent rebar metal at the end of a boat ramp waiting on a bird to land on the nearby rebar upright for food.

3 Mimicry in Snakes We saw a Northern Water Snake mimicking a piece of bent rebar metal at the end of a boat ramp waiting on a bird to land on the nearby rebar upright for food. Without taking time to look at the water and the metal structure we may not have seen the Northern Water Snake which could have been a bite-risk to us or disturbed the snake from its hunting. We were amazed with it s beauty and artistic way it matched its surroundings and the knowledge of this creature to understand its own coloration and pattern and find a perfect match not just in color of its body, but its diameter and white mouth while knowing it could form to the same bend of the metal and spacing to perfectly match an inmate man made object. This was more than instinct and genetics at work or evolution as some would suggest. Its Creator has given it the ability to understand. It had moved beyond its natural environment of sticks, logs, rocks and found a metal structure that had matched its appearance perfectly. Ironically, this is the only place to tie a boat at this boat ramp and while the snake s intention is to hunt for a bird, but there is an inherent risk for someone tying their boat for loading. A polarizing filter on my camera allowed me to see even further into the water. The rest of the snake was under the shelf of the boat ramp, so with the mimicking of the rebar and the concrete shelf for protection the snake could focus on hunting for prey. This Northern Water Snake was using its intelligence, visual sensors, A Northern Water Snake mimicking its surroundings to hunt food in safety and behavior to adapt its and undetected at Lee s Creek in Crawford County, Arkansas. shape to the rebar by morphing and location placement to associate to the same color and patterns by camouflaging. This form of behavior can be from inherent intelligence, learned intelligence, or even over time 2

be from natural instincts. Animals have the ability to form this behavior through intelligence architected from their Creator. Behavior, morphing, and camouflaging are all forms of mimicry.

4 be from natural instincts. Animals have the ability to form this behavior through intelligence architected from their Creator. Behavior, morphing, and camouflaging are all forms of mimicry. So by knowing that animals use mimicry then you can learn more about this subject and enhance your ability to see further and deeper into nature, giving you the ability to enjoy the hidden creatures around you and protect yourself while protecting nature. Mimicry in Walking Sticks We have seen mimicking in an interesting insect called a Giant Walking Stick or its scientific name of Megaphasma denticrus. The Giant Walking Stick we found was a beautiful specimen of the North American insect. My wife rescued a giant walking stick from the wrath of a store keeper s broom. I gently set it on a wooden post to photograph and to more closely examine. We were so amazed that it looked like a small bamboo stick with strokes of green on its legs. It was alive but looked so much like a beautiful small stick of bamboo even when I fully zoomed my camera in closely. Yes, it was alive and even lifted her head and looked up at my wife and I as we looked at the beautiful female walking stick. I even took a photograph of of her looking at us. Only God could create something so beautiful with the ability to mimic its environment and it is particularly important for this female walking stick to survive as there is a ratio of 1000 males to 1 female. Well, she survived the wrath of the store keeper s broom and we released her into her natural environment to lay her eggs for the season. I am sure she will stay in her environment now A Giant Walking Stick in Dover, Arkansas as she was easily seen on the front porch of the store. 3

So how does a Giant Walking Stick use mimicry to go through the forest virtually undetected? It is undetected by its camouflage and daytime motionless state.

5 So how does a Giant Walking Stick use mimicry to go through the forest virtually undetected? It is undetected by its camouflage and daytime motionless state. A giant walking stick looks like other branches and sticks while resting on its natural backdrop making it very difficult for most predators to feed upon what they cannot recognize. Some species of walking sticks can change their color to camouflage themselves to further match their surroundings. Some walking sticks species have learned behavior to mimic the swaying of a branch in the wind when they walk. Even others may remain still if attacked by a predator to continue their mimicking of a stick. Many walking stick eggs look like seeds and will often be left alone by predators that feed upon insect eggs. Even ants are known to protect the eggs as a food source and when they hatch some species will look like ant nymphs and freely crawl from the nest and go on to maturity to become a walking stick. A walking stick is an interesting and beautifully architected insect that uses many forms of mimicry including behavior and camouflage. Mimicry in Moths One day, my wife and I were at Lake Ft. Smith Park, in Arkansas and a leaf fell across my shoulder and landed on the ground. I bent over to take a closer look as it blended in so well and it was hard to find. But this leaf was different as it had a cross on its back that made it beautiful. I wondered what kind of leaf looked like a cross and it had my interest. Its coloring blended in so well with the leaves on the forest floor. So I gently picked up this leaf to examine it and I saw it had a face on the front of it, I saw eyes, and it was alive! What I had found was a wonderful example of White Clymene Haploa Clymene God's creation of a moth mimicking a leaf yet displaying the sign of a cross as a sign of hope for all. How beautiful and uplifting for this creature to visit us along our walk through the woods. Before I could gently place it back on the forest floor it took off and looked like a leaf blowing in the wind. 4

Mimicry in Butterflies We began our interest in butterfly mimicry on the banks of the Mulberry River Recreation Area in Arkansas.

6 It was a wonderfully architected White Clymene Haploa Clymene moth designed to mimic a leaf for protection from predators or birds. It was using camouflage and behavior mimicry as it fluttered as a leaf and would remain motionless on the forest floor resting to make its next journey to a flower for nectar. Mimicry in Butterflies We began our interest in butterfly mimicry on the banks of the Mulberry River Recreation Area in Arkansas. As I was taking photos of the reflections of the still July waters, I noticed a beautiful black caterpillar arrayed with orange rows of spines. I wanted to capture this beauty to remember and to share with others. It was crawling up a vine wrapped around a stalk of cane. It was even more beautiful and interesting than the river that I was photographing because it was alive and so colorful. So I changed my camera focus from the river to this beautiful caterpillar. When I returned back home and began looking at the images we captured, I was wondering what type of butterfly was this caterpillar to become. So this is where our interest in mimicry began and interestingly we found out it was to become a Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. The caterpillar was beginning its life feeding upon as you would guess a Pipevine plant. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar Not every creature can feed upon the poisonous leaves of this vine as they are toxic to many animals and insects. It seems God has created this caterpillar to have a natural protection from the toxins contained in its leaves. Birds have developed an instinct to avoid Pipevine Plant Aristolochia macrophylla Lam this caterpillar that displays the bright orange markings seeming to say, warning. The toxic buildup remains within the caterpillar as it be- 5

comes a butterfly. Birds have learned to avoid both in their diet. So the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly has a special survival protection from its natural bird predators.

Ironically, we thought we had a photograph of a Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly but we found that through close examination our images were of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail females, Eastern Black

As we researched the common color architecture of these butterfly designs we discovered that researchers had noted that they had adapted to mimic the Pipevine Swallowtail to gain their same

7 comes a butterfly. Birds have learned to avoid both in their diet. So the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly has a special survival protection from its natural bird predators. Just as interesting, was for us to learn that other butterflies mimic the Pipevine Swallowtail and enjoy the same protection. Ironically, we thought we had a photograph of a Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly but we found that through close examination our images were of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail females, Eastern Black Swallowtails, Spicebush Swallowtails and Red-spotted Purple butterflies. This form of mimicking is termed mimicry by scientists. As we researched the common color architecture of these butterfly designs we discovered that researchers had noted that they had adapted to mimic the Pipevine Swallowtail to gain their same protection though they are not actually poisonous themselves. With an informed awareness of mimicry you will see beyond the mimicked camouflage of species that hide themselves on the backdrop of a tree s bark, a leaf, the colors of weeds or even the behavior to just simply remain still. Spicebush Swallowtail Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly Eastern Black Swallowtail So our search continued for a Pipevine Swallowtail in hopes of capturing images of one. Finally we were able to photograph several Pipevine Swallowtails, but we found hundreds of other butterflies mimicking the Pipevine Swallowtail as they were plentifully because birds could not recognize the difference and they had no prey to reduce their numbers. Mimicry made our search of a Pipevine Swallowtail interesting and difficult. 6

Pipevine Swallowtail feeding upon nectar. Mimicry in Birds Pipevine Swallowtail (male) feeding upon salts and nitrogen from the dry Buffalo River bed.

So we just took a minute and waited for more movement and finally we saw something matching the gravel so perfectly and it was a Killdeer bird.

It was remarkable how the bird used its camouflage and behavior to understand it could be virtually undetected in an open area that matched its design and color.

8 Pipevine Swallowtail feeding upon nectar. Mimicry in Birds Pipevine Swallowtail (male) feeding upon salts and nitrogen from the dry Buffalo River bed. We noticed a small movement in the gravel but we could not see anything. So we just took a minute and waited for more movement and finally we saw something matching the gravel so perfectly and it was a Killdeer bird. I pointed my camera in the direction of the bird and it took me several attempts to get the image into view as it was hard to find again. It was remarkable how the bird used its camouflage and behavior to understand it could be virtually undetected in an open area that matched its design and color. Just out of view Killdeer Bird on the right center portion of the photograph. we saw a fence line and tall grass for the bird to hide in but remarkably the bird knew it was architected by its Creator to mimic its natural surroundings where it naturally searched for food through a process scientists have called Mimicry. 7

The killdeer even built its nests in the open from natural materials in that immediate location. It will distract a predator by leading its prey away by imitating an injured bird with a broken wing.

9 The killdeer bird referred to by its scientific name as (Charadrius vociferus) is from a family of medium size shore birds. So it is not surprising you will find it on the gravel shores of the Arkansas River to gravel roadways of Arkansas Highways and roads. The killdeer even built its nests in the open from natural materials in that immediate location. It will distract a predator by leading its prey away by imitating an injured bird with a broken wing. The killdeer is using behavior and camouflage forms of mimicry along with its intelligence to protect itself and its offspring. Killdeer bird eggs in a bed of gravel. Mimicry in Wildlife When my wife and I began photographing wildlife, I remember Kay wanted to see a deer in it s natural environment. In time, we learned to see wildlife in the woods but never realized they had been so close and yet so hidden. For an animal as large as a whitetail deer to be hidden is an amazing example of mimicry. In this image you will see a full size whitetail deer but not visible unless you have adapted your perspective to be able to see past natural camouflage. But as you read further in this document you will soon see a second photograph where you can see the deer more easily as it has been magnified. So the image was there all along but our brain does not discriminate between the natural setting and the deer. Animals have learned to discriminate be- 8

10 tween nature and their predators of which man has become. So, photography of wildlife does present a challenge because the animals we hope to see can see us first as their brains have developed filters to visually discriminate for their self preservation. With repetitive encounters further development occurs making this discrimination highly sensitive. This behavior is learned, adaptable, and may become inherited instincts passed to offspring. My wife and I have learned to visually discriminate between animals and the habitant where they dwell motionless to further conceal themselves. The number of hours we experienced in their habitat and encounters with wildlife and insects has led us to conclude that our ability has been enhanced to discriminate between the two. Our research has confirmed that humans can develop what scientists call perceptional biases.. So we can conclude our cognitive processes will develop a bias for the objects that we searching for in our environment through a cognitive filter that has developed from repetitive exposure and our sensory input will process these images for us as a natural part of of our visual recognition process. We are so amazed that by simply being observant and having a desire to see the 9

beauty that God has placed in this world that He has placed the ability within our minds to see even more of the beauty in the midst of what would appear to had previously been hidden before our eyes.

11 beauty that God has placed in this world that He has placed the ability within our minds to see even more of the beauty in the midst of what would appear to had previously been hidden before our eyes. This is so true about much in life as there is so much beauty that is unseen. When I spent thousands of hours ministering to the homeless in the streets of America my heart had affected my vision and I saw beyond the dirty clothes, unkept faces, aged skin from the sun, and the potential danger and saw a heart of a person that was lonely, hurting and hungry. I began to see only beautiful people with beautiful stories that reached out to me with their love as I reached out with mine. So let God shape your heart and your mind so you will have the courage and patience to enjoy all people and all of the nature that God has placed before us. The world is a beautiful place if we take time to allow our minds and hearts to shaped and changed by our Creator as He sees all His creation beautiful, even the smallest flower that may live for only a day. Learn to enjoy every day and see all that He has before you! By going out to enjoy, learn, and to love His Creation you will find the mind He has given you can adapt your mind to see through the weeds, vines, leaves, grime faces, or unkept clothes to see a world that is filled with beautiful people and beautiful nature to enjoy. We saw several wild foxes living near the city and I just could not get a a good image even with my telephoto lens as the fox was so attuned to the threat of man that he would quickly disappear as I started my approach many blocks away. We returned another day and I saw the fox again. I placed my camera on the tripod and extended it s legs. I put it in front of me and 10

12 started walking toward the wild fox. The wind was blowing from behind me toward the fox and I could see it already had detected me approaching but just stood there and looked and even at one point it sat down and continued to look and raise its head to sniff the air. All of sudden I realized I was using mimicry to camouflage myself with a metal tripod and camera and the animals brain could not discriminate me from the my photographic equipment in front of me. I was able to walk within 50 feet and captured a beautiful image of the fox and learned more about its behavior and instincts. I was amazed that I knew if I had approached the same fox in the woods that it could discriminate me from the foliage. In Conclusion We hope you have found mimicry an interesting subject and gained a further understanding how wildlife and insects uses mimicry to survive and enjoy in their environment. At the same time we hope you will learn to see beyond the natural camouflage, environment, and behavior to see the beauty that is alive before our own eyes. Learn to see, enjoy, and protect the beauty and help others to see through the same caring eyes. So the next time you see a very small wooden stick on a tree you will wonder if it has eyes and may even walk away. You might see a gray tear drop shadow and wait quietly to watch it move and all of a sudden it becomes a deer and soon you will see the animals and trees and the forest will open up before your eyes. 11

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