In experiments by Greene and colleagues (1987)with the tephritid fly Zonosemata vittigera and the jumping spider Phidippus apacheanus,the purpose for gluing housefly wings onto the bodies of the tephritid fly was to ________.
A) test for the effect of wing surgery in preventing predation
B) test for effect of wing markings in preventing predation
C) control for the effect of wing waving in preventing predation
D) test for the effect of wing shape in preventing predation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The purpose for gluing housefly wings onto the bodies of the tephritid fly was to test for effect of wing markings in preventing predation. Greene and colleagues were interested in studying the effect of wing markings on predation by jumping spiders, so they used housefly wings as a way to manipulate the wing markings of the tephritid fly. By comparing the predation rates of flies with and without glued-on wings, they were able to determine whether wing markings influenced predator behavior. The other options (A, C, D) are not relevant to the purpose of the experiment.

In Experiments by Greene and Colleagues (1987)with the Tephritid Fly