DOI: 10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwt98
title: Data for: The matador bug's flags deter avian predators

description: Large, conspicuous traits frequently evolve despite increased predator
 attention, but in some cases, specifically to attract attention. Sexually
 selected traits provide some of the clearest examples of elaboration, yet
 natural selection can also be a powerful driver. The matador bug,
 Anisoscelis alipes (Hemiptera: Coreidae), has large, colorful flags on its
 legs that, unlike many other coreid species, are not used in reproductive
 competition. We hypothesized that these flags either a) warn predators of
 chemical defense, or b) deflect predatory attack to the removable
 hindlegs. We pitted matador bugs with or without flags and crickets
 (Acheta domesticus) with or without bug flags experimentally attached to
 their legs, against live motmot bird predators (Momotus subrufescens and
 Electron platyrhynchum). Contrary to the deflection hypothesis, almost
 none of the predatory strikes were directed at hindleg flags. Instead, we
 found support for the aposematism hypothesis: matador bug flags reduced
 attacks on palatable crickets but were unnecessary to prevent predator
 attacks against matador bugs. Palatability studies with naïve chicks
 (Gallus gallus) further supported a chemical defense hypothesis. Thus,
 these elaborate hindleg flags serve an aposematic anti-predator function,
 but in their absence, birds use alternative cues. These findings add to
 our understanding of the role of predation in driving the evolution of
 elaborate morphological structures.
description: # Data for: The matador bug's flags deter avian predators
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwt98](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwt98) Here, we test the efficacy of matador bug (*Anisoscelis alipes*) flags against avian predators. We use motmots in our main trials, as they are sympatric natural predators. To test the palatability of the bugs, we used naive chicks. Please see the main text for more information. ## Description of the data and file structure Data are compiled in two spreadsheets: one that pertains to the motmot trials (Rubin_etal_2024_BehavEcol.csv) and one that pertains to palatability trials with chicks (Palatability_data_Rubin_etal_BehavEcol2024.csv). The supplemental file is a pdf version of the R markdown script. **Definitions of columns in the motmot datasheet:** Bird = unique ID of each bird individual Species = species of motmot bird predator Day = trial day for each bird (1 or 2) Trial_num = sequential identifier for each trial for each bird, per trial batch Time_trial_batch = time of day when trials occurred (morning / afternoon) treat_seq = sequential identifier for the trial number of each prey animal treatment Treatment = treatment of prey animal: Coreid_natural (bug with no modifications), Coreid_ablated (bug with hindleg flags removed), Control (cricket with no modifications), Cricket_bugleg (crickets with bug legs added to their hindlegs) Attack = did the bird attack the prey animal? 1 is yes 0 is no **Definitions of the columns in palatability data sheet:** Bird_num = unique ID of each bird individual Bird_color = unique color pattern marking that we created for each individual Treatment = treatment of prey animal: Matador (bug with no modifications), Matador_ablated (bug with hindleg flags removed), Cricket (cricket with no modifications) Order = sequential identifier for each trial for each bird Avoid = chick does not attack prey Peck = chick pecks at but does not consume prey Eat = chick consumes prey Time_delay_sec = number of seconds it takes for the chick to attack one of the matador prey treatments. All trials with control crickets, or trials where a chick never attacked the matador bug have a value of NA. ## Sharing/Access information All data and code associated with this publication were collected expressly for this project and can be found here.