Elytra color as a signal of chemical defense in the Asian ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis

Not simply red: Colouration of red wood ant Formica rufa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is polymorphic, modular and size-dependent

“…When studying colouration, it is always important to know whether it is sensitive to the other body parameters (Bezzerides et al, 2007). Our results revealed, that such colour traits as the size of the pigmented area on the head, pronotum and mesonotum of F. rufa are associated with an individual's body size, as smaller individuals have larger melanized areas.…”

Characteristics of a Laboratory Strain of <i>Coleomegilla maculata </i>with a Novel Heritable Wing Spot Pattern Trait

“…Recent research on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster indicates that dark pigmentation patterning is associated with resistance to ultraviolet radiation exposure, and melanic forms are most closely correlated with high levels of exposure [11]. Toxic defensive compounds and elytra coloration are correlated in Harmonia axiridis [16] and Coccinella septempunctata [17]; whether this is also true for C. maculata is a topic for further research. Both the ye and ye/10sp insects produce reflex hemolymph leakage accompanied by a distinctively unpleasant odor when disturbed (empirical observation), but variation between the phenotypic strains has not yet been examined or analyzed.…”

Linking the evolution and form of warning coloration in nature

“…Within a single ladybird population, Bezzerides et al [49] report strong variation in the extent of red coloration on the wing elytra that was correlated with levels of alkaloid defences. Again, exploration of whether predators are sensitive to this variation would be very worthwhile, although it will be important to remember that elytra coloration has been shown to be important in mate choice in the species concerned.…”