Science. 1989 Feb 3;243(4891):643-6. doi: 10.1126/science.243.4891.643.
Caterpillars of the spring brood of Nemoria arizonaria develop into mimics of the oak catkins upon which they feed. Caterpillars from the summer brood emerge after the catkins have fallen and they develop instead into mimics of oak twigs. This developmental polymorphism may be triggered by the concentration of defensive secondary compounds in the larval diet: all caterpillars raised on catkins, which are low in tannin, developed into catkin morphs; those raised on leaves, which are high in tannin, developed into twig morphs; most raised on artificial diets of catkins with elevated tannin concentrations developed into twig morphs.
春型幼虫在取食时拟态柳絮，夏型幼虫在柳絮脱落之后出现，拟态为栎树枝条。这种发育多态性可能是由幼虫食物中防御性次生化合物的浓度触发的：所有在单宁含量低的柳絮上饲养的幼虫都发育成柳絮形态；在单宁含量高的栎树叶上饲养的幼虫发育成树枝形态；大多数在单宁浓度升高的柳絮人工饲料上饲养的幼虫发育成树枝形态。
