Data from: Passive debris cloaking in beetles provides non-visual camouflage against predatory ants
Data files
Dec 18, 2025 version files 119.93 KB
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Predation_data.csv
117.38 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
Our understanding of visual camouflage has increased dramatically in recent years, however we know less about anti-predator defenses that exploit senses other than vision. Low light habitats, such as leaf litter, are more commonly dominated by predators that rely on chemical, tactile, and other nonvisual cues. Passive debris cloaking is a trait found in several arthropod groups that reside in low light habitats and appears as a layer of environmental debris that covers the cuticle. This debris accumulates passively as the organism moves through its habitat, generally via the secretion of adhesive compounds through specialized pores. We hypothesised that passive debris cloaking is a form of non-visual camouflage, and tested this experimentally using zopherid beetles as a model. Zopherid beetles are highly diverse in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and include many species that exhibit passive debris cloaking. By exposing zopherids with varying degrees of cuticular debris to colonies of foraging predatory ants, we found that passive debris cloaking (1) reduces detection by ants, (2) reduces the probability of attack if detected, and (3) is most effective when interactions occur on natural backgrounds. Our results provide evidence that passive debris cloaking is a highly effective form of non-visual camouflage, suggesting non-visual camouflage may be more prevalent in low light habitats than currently appreciated.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.v15dv427v
Description of the data and file structure
This data accompanies the manuscript titled "Passive debris cloaking in beetles provides non-visual camouflage against predatory ants".
This data was collected by putting a single beetle into the foraging area of an artificial ant colony and scoring interactions between foraging ants and the beetle "prey" for 10 minutes. Each row is a separate experiment. All experiments were run at night time using only a red head light for light to maintain nocturnal conditions as all species used in these experiments are nocturnal. For detailed information on treatment and interaction types, see methods section in the original manuscript.
For more information on the collection information for zopherid beetles used for these experiments, see the spread sheet supplied as supplementary material in the original manuscript titled "NZAC numbers behaviour specimens" which contains locality and micro habitat data.
Files and variables
File: Predation_data.csv
Description: Raw data used in "Passive debris cloaking provides non-visual camouflage against predatory ants"
Variables
- Date: date experiment was run
- Predator: predatory ant species used
- Colony_code: identifier given to separate ant colonies
- Prey_ref: identifier given to separate beetles
- Prey: zopherid genus and species used
- Treatment: background treatment type
- Coverage: passive debris cloaking amount used for categorisation of beetle cuticle types
- Treat_number: how many experiments the individual prey has been exposed to consecutively
- PRED_contact_no_react:How many came into contact with the beetle prey without stopping to antennate
- PRED_prolonged_antennation: How many ants stopped to antennate the beetle prey
- PRED_grasping: The number of ants attempted to grasp the beetle prey with their mandibles
- PRED_dragging_carrying: The number of ants that either attempted or were successful at dragging or carrying the beetle into their nesting area
- Total_ants: total number of ants interacting with prey specimen during experiment
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- For collection and husbandry information see Supplemental Material file with manuscript
- For locality and habitat information see NZAC_numbers_behaviour_specimens spreadsheet supplied with original manuscript