ArticleProceedings. Biological sciences2020
False holes as camouflage.
Article in Proceedings. Biological sciences, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- High Contrast Markings Can Negate the Benefits of Transparent Camouflage.Ecology and evolution · 2026Article
- Functional and evolutionary synergy of trait components can explain the existence of leaf masquerade in katydids.PLoS biology · 2025Article
- Camouflage Using Surface Disruption: The Importance of Corners Versus Edges.Ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- Reconstructing illusory camouflage patterns on moth wings using computer vision.Journal of the Royal Society, Interface · 2025Article
- Imperfections in transparency and mimicry do not increase predation risk for clearwing butterflies with educated predators.Ecology and evolution · 2024Article
- Camouflage using three-dimensional surface disruption.Biology letters · 2023Article
- Generalist camouflage can be more successful than microhabitat specialisation in natural environments.BMC ecology and evolution · 2021Article
- Neoptile feathers contribute to outline concealment of precocial chicks.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Imperfect transparency and camouflage in glass frogs.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2020Article
- False holes as camouflage.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2020Article
- Interactions between color and gloss in iridescent camouflage.Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral EcologyArticle
- Varying benefits of generalist and specialist camouflage in two versus four background environments.Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral EcologyArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Long noted by naturalists, leaf mimicry provides some of the most impressive examples of camouflage through masquerade. Many species of leaf-mimicking Lepidoptera also sport wing markings that closely resemble irregularly shaped holes caused by decay or insect damage. Despite proposals that such markings can either enhance resemblance to damaged leaves or act to disrupt surface appearance through false depth cues, to our knowledge, no attempt has been made to establish exactly how these markings function, or even whether they confer a survival benefit to prey. Here, in two field experiments using artificial butterfly-like targets, we show that false hole markings provide significant survival benefits against avian predation. Furthermore, in a computer-based visual search experiment, we demonstrate that detection of such targets by humans is impeded in a similar fashion. Equally contrasting light marks do not have the same effect; indeed, they lead to increased detection. We conclude that the mechanism is the disruption of the otherwise homogeneous wing surface (surface disruptive camouflage) and that, by resembling the holes sometimes found in real leaves, the disruptive benefits are not offset by conspicuousness costs.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.