Red leaves hide plants from insects: plants

1 of 1 Anthocyanins are found in the cell vacuole / Ivona Sandru / License

Anthocyanins in leaves camouflage the plant from insects and make insects more vulnerable to predators by inhibiting the reflecting of green wavelengths.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from biotic factors >
	Animals

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Photovoltaics, camouflage materials, nutrient acquisition.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Hence, leaf anthocyanins by closing the green reflectance window left by chlorophyll make the leaf less discernible to insect consumers (plant camouflage hypothesis). Alternatively (or in addition), the usually green folivorous insects, if found on a red leaf, are more easily recognized by their predators (undermining of insect camouflage by the plant)…The neglected hypothesis of plant camouflage against herbivory and the recent opinion that leaf redness may undermine the green folivorous insect camouflage are theoretically more sound since they are compatible with folivorous insect vision physiology and also afford a reasonable explanation for the almost exclusive selection of red anthocyanins in leaves." (Manetas 2006:172)

About the inspiring organism

Plantae
Plantae

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Photovoltaics, camouflage materials, nutrient acquisition.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Photovoltaics

Experts

Laboratory of Plant Physiology
Yiannis Manetas
Department of Biology, University of Patras

References

Manetas, Y. 2006. Why some leaves are anthocyanic and why most anthocyanic leaves are red?. Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants. 201(3): 163-177.

Red leaves hide plants from insects: plants

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