🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1i5gf2INN7ea@shelley.u.washington.edu> jespah@carson.u.washington.edu (Kathleen Hunt) writes:
[ a wonderful summary of theories why zebras are striped ]
>3. Camouflage -- insects don't recognize a striped animal as an animal
>Biting insects use a variety of cues to find prey animals, including heat,
>but at least some insects rely to some extent on vision, and selectively
>land on large, solid-colored objects.

Once you have been bitten by a Tsetse fly, you appreciate the value of
an adaption that deters them - that's just the pain, there is also the risk
of disease.  What's needed is for someone to paint out the stripes on some
zebras and see if they get more insect bites.

Andrew Taylor