Benito Wainwright
@benitoexplains.bsky.social
Research fellow at the University of St Andrews 🏳️🌈 • Evolutionary and sensory ecology in 🦋+ 🦗 • He/him • I also make YouTube videos. Link here: https://youtube.com/@benitosexplenations?si=zpMANThrSJv_efM0
So then, the co-occurrence of traits with synergistic effects provide a viable mechanism through which exquisitely sophisticated adaptations, such as leaf masquerade, can evolve! 11/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
So then, the co-occurrence of traits with synergistic effects provide a viable mechanism through which exquisitely sophisticated adaptations, such as leaf masquerade, can evolve! 11/n
But most excitingly of all, we found that (controlling for phylogeny) colour and shape are evolutionarily correlated with path analysis suggesting that these leafy traits were acquired simultaneously during the evolution of leaf masquerade in katydids. 10/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
But most excitingly of all, we found that (controlling for phylogeny) colour and shape are evolutionarily correlated with path analysis suggesting that these leafy traits were acquired simultaneously during the evolution of leaf masquerade in katydids. 10/n
In concordance with our predation experiment, we found that to score highly in the human leafiness rankings, wings needed to be the right colouration AND the right shape. 9/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
In concordance with our predation experiment, we found that to score highly in the human leafiness rankings, wings needed to be the right colouration AND the right shape. 9/n
Having collected these wings, I designed a survey where 55 human participants had the honour of assigning them a ‘leafiness score’. Pictured on the left is our leafy winner (leafiness score: 9.05), and on the right is our wooden spoon prize (leafiness score: 1.88). Better luck next year mate 😢. 8/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Having collected these wings, I designed a survey where 55 human participants had the honour of assigning them a ‘leafiness score’. Pictured on the left is our leafy winner (leafiness score: 9.05), and on the right is our wooden spoon prize (leafiness score: 1.88). Better luck next year mate 😢. 8/n
To answer this, I had to exchange fieldwork in bonnie Scotland for the lush rainforests of Barro Colorado Island, Panama… 🌴 My newfound hobby of katydidling yielded 250+ katydid wings across 58 species, with leafy features having evolved several times independently. 7/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
To answer this, I had to exchange fieldwork in bonnie Scotland for the lush rainforests of Barro Colorado Island, Panama… 🌴 My newfound hobby of katydidling yielded 250+ katydid wings across 58 species, with leafy features having evolved several times independently. 7/n
Lo and behold, prey that were leafy in colour (green) and in shape (oval) were more likely to trick predators than all other colour*shape combinations. This tells us that leaf masquerade relies on a synergistic interaction of its trait components to be functional. 5/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Lo and behold, prey that were leafy in colour (green) and in shape (oval) were more likely to trick predators than all other colour*shape combinations. This tells us that leaf masquerade relies on a synergistic interaction of its trait components to be functional. 5/n
…And exposed them to wild bird predators in Bonnie Scotland 🏴❤️4/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
…And exposed them to wild bird predators in Bonnie Scotland 🏴❤️4/n
It seems intuitive to suppose that to be a convincing leaf, one must be both leaf-coloured AND leaf-shaped. To test how leaf masquerade actually fools predators, we used advanced skills acquired from playschool to make fake “leafy prey” of different colours and shapes.… ✂️3/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
It seems intuitive to suppose that to be a convincing leaf, one must be both leaf-coloured AND leaf-shaped. To test how leaf masquerade actually fools predators, we used advanced skills acquired from playschool to make fake “leafy prey” of different colours and shapes.… ✂️3/n
Complex composite adaptations are everywhere you look, yet explaining their existence from both a functional and evolutionary perspective is no simple task. The dazzling variety of leafy and non-leafy outfits of katydids provides a system in which to tackle these evolutionary questions… 2/n
November 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Complex composite adaptations are everywhere you look, yet explaining their existence from both a functional and evolutionary perspective is no simple task. The dazzling variety of leafy and non-leafy outfits of katydids provides a system in which to tackle these evolutionary questions… 2/n
How about a splash of Scottish North Sea for good measure 🌊
August 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
How about a splash of Scottish North Sea for good measure 🌊
Thanks to those who came and chatted all things katydid camouflage at my poster on Monday! For those watching on catch-up, come and find me at the poster session on Thursday 😀🦗🍃 #ESEB2025
August 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Thanks to those who came and chatted all things katydid camouflage at my poster on Monday! For those watching on catch-up, come and find me at the poster session on Thursday 😀🦗🍃 #ESEB2025
This work would not have been possible without the immense support and guidance @ebablab.bsky.social has given me over these past six years. I also wouldn't have got very far without my world-class field assistant Theodora Loupasaki. We took our work very seriously... 13/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
This work would not have been possible without the immense support and guidance @ebablab.bsky.social has given me over these past six years. I also wouldn't have got very far without my world-class field assistant Theodora Loupasaki. We took our work very seriously... 13/n
I would love to say that I spent several evenings pondering these thought-provoking scientific ideas whilst basking in the warm glow of the Amazonian sunset, but to be honest, I mostly spent those evenings thinking about how much I missed crisps...
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I would love to say that I spent several evenings pondering these thought-provoking scientific ideas whilst basking in the warm glow of the Amazonian sunset, but to be honest, I mostly spent those evenings thinking about how much I missed crisps...
Our work highlights the role of ecologically relevant light in shaping communities and visual system evolution in megadiverse rainforests like Yasuni. But perhaps more interestingly, it demonstrates the profound effects interspecies mutualisms can have on other aspects of trait evolution. 12/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Our work highlights the role of ecologically relevant light in shaping communities and visual system evolution in megadiverse rainforests like Yasuni. But perhaps more interestingly, it demonstrates the profound effects interspecies mutualisms can have on other aspects of trait evolution. 12/n
We wanted to take things one step further and see whether the strength of these processes was enough to drive sensory convergence among co-mimics. Evolutionary modelling (+a bunch of other approaches) confirmed that indeed it is! 11/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
We wanted to take things one step further and see whether the strength of these processes was enough to drive sensory convergence among co-mimics. Evolutionary modelling (+a bunch of other approaches) confirmed that indeed it is! 11/n
Low and behold, we see striking light environmental convergence in a suite of visual traits, including facet diameter and the relative investment in visual brain structures, shown here. Simply put, species in brighter habitats have convergently evolved bigger visual systems 10/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Low and behold, we see striking light environmental convergence in a suite of visual traits, including facet diameter and the relative investment in visual brain structures, shown here. Simply put, species in brighter habitats have convergently evolved bigger visual systems 10/n
We examined the eye physiology, eye anatomy, and brain anatomy of ~750 wild-caught ithomiines from Yasuni and correlated variation in these traits with light microhabitat, controlling for differences in flight-related morphology (see the paper for deets) 9/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
We examined the eye physiology, eye anatomy, and brain anatomy of ~750 wild-caught ithomiines from Yasuni and correlated variation in these traits with light microhabitat, controlling for differences in flight-related morphology (see the paper for deets) 9/n
This shows that mutualistic interactions between Mullerian co-mimics can drive convergence in light preference and therefore strengthen niche partioning within diverse tropical community assemblages. 7/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
This shows that mutualistic interactions between Mullerian co-mimics can drive convergence in light preference and therefore strengthen niche partioning within diverse tropical community assemblages. 7/n
But more interestingly, by taking light readings for ~800 individual butts, we found that ithomiine mimicry rings are partitioned across these light microhabitats! 6/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
But more interestingly, by taking light readings for ~800 individual butts, we found that ithomiine mimicry rings are partitioned across these light microhabitats! 6/n
We measured spectral irradiance in the forest and calibrated this for butterfly vision. We found that ecologically relevant light does indeed vary between forest microhabitats... 5/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
We measured spectral irradiance in the forest and calibrated this for butterfly vision. We found that ecologically relevant light does indeed vary between forest microhabitats... 5/n
We did all of this work at Parque Nacional Yasuni, Ecuador. One of the most amazing places I have ever had the privelige of visiting and possibly, the most biodiverse spot on the planet! Insane hard work, sweat, and bitey things too but I've forgiven and forgotten that now. 4/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
We did all of this work at Parque Nacional Yasuni, Ecuador. One of the most amazing places I have ever had the privelige of visiting and possibly, the most biodiverse spot on the planet! Insane hard work, sweat, and bitey things too but I've forgiven and forgotten that now. 4/n
Ithomiine butterflies are wonderful models for trying to answer these questions at the community level. They are crazily diverse (~54 species at our field site), been studied since Darwin's day, form microhabitat-partitioned mimicry rings, and, are super cute (officially verfied by me) 3/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Ithomiine butterflies are wonderful models for trying to answer these questions at the community level. They are crazily diverse (~54 species at our field site), been studied since Darwin's day, form microhabitat-partitioned mimicry rings, and, are super cute (officially verfied by me) 3/n
Tropical rainforests are spellbindingly complex places but, unlike aquatic ecosystems, we know little about how ecologically relevant light strengthens niche partitioning or drives predictable patterns of visual system evolution in these habitats... 🤔🤔🤔 2/n
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Tropical rainforests are spellbindingly complex places but, unlike aquatic ecosystems, we know little about how ecologically relevant light strengthens niche partitioning or drives predictable patterns of visual system evolution in these habitats... 🤔🤔🤔 2/n
So very excited for the magnum opus of my #PhD to finally be out in @pnas.org. 🎉🎉 We demosntrate that mutualistic co-mimicking tropical butterflies not only converge in light microhabitat but, as a consequence, have also converged in visual system morphology! 1/n😀
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
July 16, 2025 at 9:29 AM
So very excited for the magnum opus of my #PhD to finally be out in @pnas.org. 🎉🎉 We demosntrate that mutualistic co-mimicking tropical butterflies not only converge in light microhabitat but, as a consequence, have also converged in visual system morphology! 1/n😀
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Back from sunny Costa Rica (it rained almost the entire time), helping teach the world’s second ever international #CricketCourse… that I know of. Apparently my lawn whites were not necessary in the end… 🏏🤦🏽 Learned a lot and great wildlife to boot! #fieldcourse @uniofstandrews.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Back from sunny Costa Rica (it rained almost the entire time), helping teach the world’s second ever international #CricketCourse… that I know of. Apparently my lawn whites were not necessary in the end… 🏏🤦🏽 Learned a lot and great wildlife to boot! #fieldcourse @uniofstandrews.bsky.social