Cracks in the mirror hypothesis: High specularity does not reduce detection or predation risk

Abstract

Abstract Some animals, including certain fish, beetles, spiders and Lepidoptera chrysalises, have such shiny or glossy surfaces that they appear almost mirror‐like. A compelling but unsubstantiated hypothesis is that a highly specular or mirror‐like appearance enhances survival by reflecting the surrounding environment and reducing detectability. We tested this hypothesis by asking human participants to wear a mobile eye‐tracking device and locate highly realistic mirror‐green and diffuse‐green replica beetles against a variety of backgrounds in a natural forest environment. We also tested whether a mirror‐like appearance enhances survival to wild predators by monitoring the survival of mirror‐green and diffuse‐green replica beetles in a forested habitat and an open habitat. Human participants showed no difference in the detection probability or detection latency of mirror versus diffuse replica beetles, indicating that mirror‐like appearance does not impair prey capture. The field predation experiment found no difference in survival between the mirror and diffuse replica beetles in forested environments. Similarly, there was no difference in survival when beetles were deployed in the open habitat where there is no background to reflect, indicating that predators detect and do not actively avoid mirror‐like beetles. Our results suggest that a mirror‐like appearance does not reduce attack by predators. Instead, highly specular, mirror‐like surfaces may have evolved for an alternate visual function or as a secondary consequence of selection for a non‐visual function, such as thermoregulation. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.