Philosophical ponderings

As I was outside doing a quick tidy of the front, I saw a shiney bright yellow and black hover fly resting on one of the plants. I thought it was quite beautiful with its reflective surface and bright colours.

Then I got to thinking. Why did I think that?

Most of the stuff we like or dislike comes from either a deep seated, primal instinct, or stuff we've learned through life.

I've had no good or bad experiences with hover flies, or butterflies, or bumblebees. So lets rule out life experience as the reason why I like seeing these things. That leaves primal instincts, usually programmed to keep us alive as individuals and as a species. For example, we like bright coloured fruits on trees and shrubs because that can mean food. But what evolutionary programming would make me like to see bright coloured insects?

Just a random thing to ponder

 

I think you've stunned us all into silence as usual.

Keep it up.

 

Can't be protein, as yellow and black usually means danger.

Thats why i'm scared of Class 08 Shunters.

http://www.anticsonline.co.uk/1783_1_13786.html

 

I've had a ponder , and come up with the following.

Many brightly coloured insects, such as hoverflies, wasps and ladybirds for example, are actually very efficient predators of other species (aphids, caterpillars etc.) which we regard as pests because they threaten our food crops.

So could it be that evolution has taught us that the presence of these brightly coloured insects can sometimes mean there is a better chance of finding healthy food plants nearby?

 

It's art innit? It has no evolutionary function. It's just ......art.

 

Because you are a nice person and nice people always appreciate the beautiful things around them!!!

Val