Dancing Bugs

In this video, Dr. Finkbeiner stumbled across “dancing caterpillars” in the Costa Rican jungle. Several species of aggregate caterpillars react to sound frequencies with a head-flicking behavior, which is a response for deterring parasitoid predators. This is especially observed with sound frequencies most similar to the flight frequencies of fly and wasp parasites, which lay eggs on the caterpillars. This synchronous head-flicking behavior may also function as a startle mechanism for larger predators like birds. The head-flicking looks like the caterpillars are dancing to the beat but really they are just trying their best to ward off predators!

About Dr.Finkbeiner

Dr. Susan Finkbeiner is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on butterfly evolution, wing coloration, behavior, and diversity. Many of the species she studies are found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, where she spends much of her time collecting data and doing experiments.