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Proof That Nature Hates A Fraud

Posted by timothy on from the type-r-sticker dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists have known for years that insects and animals use distinct markings as status badges. Now, by staging wasp fights, researchers have learned that cheaters never win. Wimpy wasps painted with the markings reserved for a leader get beat up. Even if the fakes win, they still get harassed afterward. The study leader likened it to what might happen to a 97-pound weakling who walks around wearing a black belt. Sooner or later ..."

11 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Uh oh. by deemaunik · · Score: 3, Funny

    So my plan to get the Alpha Beta Letterman's Jacket and replace my Lambda Lambda Lambda one will fail? Oh noes. I'm doomed!

  2. Star bellied sneeches had bellies with stars by Col.+Klink+(retired) · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...but the plain bellied sneeches had none upon thars.

    --

    -- Don't Tase me, bro!

  3. Only a matter of time... by nekoniku · · Score: 3, Funny

    Coming soon to ESPN2: Extreme Wasp Fighting!

    --
    "It's a wonderful idea. But it doesn't work." -- Tad Danielewski
  4. If that's true... by Scaba · · Score: 3, Funny

    Cool. Does this mean we'll be rid of Dubya before 2008?

  5. Re:weakling by fourtwo · · Score: 5, Funny

    But now that this news is out there, maybe a real blackbelt will wear his belt to advertise the fact that he is not a fraud. Then when he is attacked by someone who assumes that he is a weakling impersonating a blackbelt impersonating a weakling impersonating a blackbelt, he can use his new method of defense, "misunderestimation."

  6. The ultimate zoology nerd prank... by iamlucky13 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Putting "kick me" signs on animals backs.

  7. Black Belts by Ralman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, I wear a black belt, a black leather belt. It is the only color belt that goes with my all black outfit.

    Hey a guy has got to do something to scare and itimidate the other coworkers away so I can read slashdot.

  8. This rocks! by PrvtBurrito · · Score: 2, Funny
    Wasp fights, as a scientist, I went in to the wrong damn field.

    BUT, a movie quote does come to mind:

    some dude: I could beat you in a fair fight.
    capt sparrow: That's not much incentive for me to fight fair, then, is it?

    --
    Laboratree - Scientific collaboration based on OpenSocial.
  9. Legal? by Spudley · · Score: 3, Funny

    Staging wasp fights? I can't believe that's legal.

    I mean... they banned cock fighting, bear baiting and dog fights years ago! How come wasps don't get protection?. :D

    Ah well... I guess even entomologists need the excitement of work place betting occasionally. ;)

    --
    (Spudley Strikes Again!)
    1. Re:Legal? by jlapier · · Score: 2, Funny

      those WASPs voted for a war president, let them duke it out....

  10. Re:This is idiotic by RobertB-DC · · Score: 2, Funny

    The whole premise of this article is silly. They're assuming that A - those markings are the only signals and B - that they can reproduce them well enough to fool the other wasps.

    Also the article inadvertenty noted another problem:

    Assuming the honest wasps weren't just reacting to the odor of Testor's, there must be some way they sleuthed out the imposters.

    They were joking, but think about it -- we know that insects see a very different range of colors than we do. Did they make sure that the paints they used were exact mimics of the natural colors in *all* wavelengths? Or do both colors look like the wasp equivalent of this or this in the infrared?

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.