Species that are Batesian mimics during postembryonic development shift between mimetic models as they grow in size. However, it has not yet been tested whether these successive mimetic phenotypes are similarly protected from predators. Early-instar phenotypes could represent an inaccurate phenotype or an accurate phenotype because of selection from different predators. Here, we tested the hypotheses of transformational Batesian mimicry in the ant-mimicking jumping spider Leptochestes berolinensis. We quantified the mimetic accuracy of different ontogenetic stages to potential ant models by using a multitrait approach. We measured movement, body profile, body size, and coloration. Analysis revealed adults to be more accurate mimics than juveniles. Adults were similar to smaller morphs of Camponotus or Lasius ants, whereas juveniles were more similar to Lasius and Colobopsis ants. We tested whether predators, mantises, and Pisaura spiders were deceived by mimics after having experience with ant models. These predators never captured any ant or a mimic but always captured the nonmyrmecomorphic spider. We conclude that L. berolinensis is a Batesian mimic of ants undergoing transformational mimicry, with all stages being accurate mimics.

中文翻译：

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变态蜘蛛中的转化拟态。

胚后发育过程中属于贝茨模拟的物种随着其大小的增长在模拟模型之间转移。但是，尚未测试过这些连续的模拟表型是否也受到类似保护，免受掠食者侵害。由于来自不同天敌的选择，早期成年表型可能代表不正确的表型或准确的表型。在这里，我们测试了在模仿蚂蚁的跳跃蜘蛛Leptochestes berolinensis中的贝叶斯变换拟态假设。我们通过使用多特征方法量化了不同的个体发育阶段对潜在蚂蚁模型的模拟准确性。我们测量了运动，身体轮廓，身体大小和肤色。分析表明，成年人比青少年更准确。成人类似于较小的变体弓背或Lasius蚂蚁，而青少年更类似于Lasius和Colobopsis蚂蚁。我们测试了具有蚂蚁模型经验的捕食者，螳螂和Pisaura蜘蛛是否被模仿者欺骗。这些捕食者从未捕获过任何蚂蚁或模仿物，但始终捕获了非变态蜘蛛。我们得出结论，L。berolinensis是经历转化模仿的蚂蚁的贝茨模拟，所有阶段都是准确的模拟。