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larose forest photos | profile | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Mimics in the Insect World tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Mimics in the Insect World

Many insects mimic other insects. There are many good reasons for so doing but two popular theories are that in some cases it helps them to ward off potential predators and in other cases it can fool potential prey that they are harmless (when they are not!).

Many insects, as you will see in this gallery, mimic wasps and bees. And so clever are they at doing this that it is often next to impossible to differentiate between a fly and bee, or a moth and a wasp, for example! Then there is the Viceroy butterfly that mimics the Monarch. And caterpillars that mimic bird droppings. And so on! A fascinating world of mimicry still not entirely explored or understood!

Guess which one is the real wasp!
Guess which one is the real wasp!		 Giant swallowtail caterpillar and....
Giant swallowtail caterpillar and....		 Hover fly (Temnostoma alternans), a wasp mimic
Hover fly (Temnostoma alternans), a wasp mimic
Hover fly (Merodon equestris), bumblebee mimic
Hover fly (Merodon equestris), bumblebee mimic		 Hover fly (Eristalis flavipes), bumble mimic
Hover fly (Eristalis flavipes), bumble mimic		 Hover fly and honey bee on dandelion
Hover fly and honey bee on dandelion
Hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe),#7853
Hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe),#7853		 Snowberry clearwing moth (Hemaris diffinis), #7855
Snowberry clearwing moth (Hemaris diffinis), #7855		 Hummingbird moth (Hemaris thysbe), #7853
Hummingbird moth (Hemaris thysbe), #7853
Raspberry crown borer moth (Pennisetia marginata) #2513
Raspberry crown borer moth (Pennisetia marginata) #2513		 Raspberry crown borer moth (Pennisetia marginata) #2513,
Raspberry crown borer moth (Pennisetia marginata) #2513,		 Peach tree borer moth, female (Synanthedon exitiosa) #2583
Peach tree borer moth, female (Synanthedon exitiosa) #2583
Virginia creeper clearwing moth (Albuna fraxini) #2532
Virginia creeper clearwing moth (Albuna fraxini) #2532		 Brown mantisfly (Climaciella brunnea) , a mimic of vespid wasps
Brown mantisfly (Climaciella brunnea) , a mimic of vespid wasps		 Brown mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea), a mimic of vespid wasps
Brown mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea), a mimic of vespid wasps
Robber fly (Laphria sacrator), a bumblebee mimic
Robber fly (Laphria sacrator), a bumblebee mimic		 Robber fly(Laphria sacrator), a bumblebee mimic
Robber fly(Laphria sacrator), a bumblebee mimic		 Robber fly (Laphria sacrator), a bumblebee mimic
Robber fly (Laphria sacrator), a bumblebee mimic
Robber fly (Laphria flavicollis)
Robber fly (Laphria flavicollis)		 Robber fly (Laphria sericea) with beetle. Another bee mimic
Robber fly (Laphria sericea) with beetle. Another bee mimic		 Robber fly (Laphria) with prey. This is another bumblebee mimic
Robber fly (Laphria) with prey. This is another bumblebee mimic
Robber fly (Laphria sp.) a bumble bee mimic
Robber fly (Laphria sp.) a bumble bee mimic		 Robber fly (Laphria sp.) a bumblebee mimic
Robber fly (Laphria sp.) a bumblebee mimic		 Robber fly (Laphria) with prey.
Robber fly (Laphria) with prey.
Side view of robber fly (Laphria) with prey, looking more bumblebee like!
Side view of robber fly (Laphria) with prey, looking more bumblebee like!		 Aster Bee fly (Sparnopolius confusus)
Aster Bee fly (Sparnopolius confusus)		 Greater bee fly (Bombylius major), a bee mimic
Greater bee fly (Bombylius major), a bee mimic
Bee fly (Villa)
Bee fly (Villa)		 Bee fly (Villa sp), a bee mimic
Bee fly (Villa sp), a bee mimic		 Bee fly (Villa cf. alternata), a bee mimic
Bee fly (Villa cf. alternata), a bee mimic
Bee flies (Systropus macer), mimic of Ichnemonid wasps
Bee flies (Systropus macer), mimic of Ichnemonid wasps		 Tachinid fly (Cylindromyia interrupta), a wasp mimic
Tachinid fly (Cylindromyia interrupta), a wasp mimic		 Tachinid fly (Cylindromyia interrupta)
Tachinid fly (Cylindromyia interrupta)
Thick-headed fly (Physocephala sp.), a wasp mimic
Thick-headed fly (Physocephala sp.), a wasp mimic		 Thick headed fly (Physocephala furcillata)
Thick headed fly (Physocephala furcillata)		 Thick-headed fly (Physocephala sp. )
Thick-headed fly (Physocephala sp. )
Scorpion fly (Panorpa sp.), male, a scorpion mimic
Scorpion fly (Panorpa sp.), male, a scorpion mimic		 Hover fly (Ocyptamus fascipennis), a mimic of Ichneumonid wasps
Hover fly (Ocyptamus fascipennis), a mimic of Ichneumonid wasps		 Hover fly (Ocyptamus fascipennis), a mimic of Ichneumonid wasps
Hover fly (Ocyptamus fascipennis), a mimic of Ichneumonid wasps
Hover fly (Chalcosyrphus curvaria), a wasp mimic
Hover fly (Chalcosyrphus curvaria), a wasp mimic		 Hover fly (Eristalis sp.) , a bee mimic
Hover fly (Eristalis sp.) , a bee mimic		 Hover fly (Eristalis dimidiata)
Hover fly (Eristalis dimidiata)
Hover fly, prob. (Eristalis arbustorum), a bee mimic
Hover fly, prob. (Eristalis arbustorum), a bee mimic		 Hover fly (Eristalis tenax) bee mimic
Hover fly (Eristalis tenax) bee mimic		 One is a bumblebee and one is a fly!
One is a bumblebee and one is a fly!
Hover fly (Volucella sp.), a bumblebee mimic
Hover fly (Volucella sp.), a bumblebee mimic		 Hover fly (Volucella sp.), a bumblebee mimic
Hover fly (Volucella sp.), a bumblebee mimic		 Hover fly, bumblebee mimic, possibly Criorhina sp.
Hover fly, bumblebee mimic, possibly Criorhina sp.
Hover fly (Spilomyia longicornis), a mimic of yellowjackets
Hover fly (Spilomyia longicornis), a mimic of yellowjackets		 Hover fly (Spilomyia longicornis), a mimic of yellowjackets
Hover fly (Spilomyia longicornis), a mimic of yellowjackets		 Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi), a vespid mimic
Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi), a vespid mimic
Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi), a vespid mimic
Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi), a vespid mimic		 Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi), a vespid mimic
Hover fly (Spilomyia sayi), a vespid mimic		 Hover fly (spilomyia sayi), vespid mimics
Hover fly (spilomyia sayi), vespid mimics
Spilomyia sayi, vespid mimic
Spilomyia sayi, vespid mimic		 Hover fly (Spilomyia fusca), a Bald-faced hornet mimic
Hover fly (Spilomyia fusca), a Bald-faced hornet mimic		 Hover fly (Sericomyia chrysotoxoides), bee mimic
Hover fly (Sericomyia chrysotoxoides), bee mimic
Hover fly (Sericomyia chrysotoxoides), bee mimic
Hover fly (Sericomyia chrysotoxoides), bee mimic		 Hover fly (Sericomyia chrysotoxoides), bee mimic
Hover fly (Sericomyia chrysotoxoides), bee mimic		 Hover fly (Sericomyia militaris) a wasp mimic
Hover fly (Sericomyia militaris) a wasp mimic
Hover fly (Sericomyia militaris) wasp mimic
Hover fly (Sericomyia militaris) wasp mimic		 Hover flies (Sphecomyia vittata), a wasp mimic
Hover flies (Sphecomyia vittata), a wasp mimic		 Hover flies (Sphecomyia vittata), a wasp mimic
Hover flies (Sphecomyia vittata), a wasp mimic
Syrphid fly (Didea fuscipes)
Syrphid fly (Didea fuscipes)		 Hover fly (Temnostoma alternans), a vespid wasp mimic
Hover fly (Temnostoma alternans), a vespid wasp mimic		 Hover fly (Somula decora), a wasp mimic
Hover fly (Somula decora), a wasp mimic
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Monarch mimic
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), Monarch mimic		 Viceroy larva (Limenitis archippus), mimic of a bird dropping
Viceroy larva (Limenitis archippus), mimic of a bird dropping		 Flower scarab beetle (Trichiotinus affinis) on iris. A bee mimic
Flower scarab beetle (Trichiotinus affinis) on iris. A bee mimic
Hank Vander Velde06-Sep-2017 19:48
A most fantastic presentation and images of the mimicry of insects Christine.. Terrific tack sharp macro images too. Great work.
Ann Cleeves06-Sep-2017 16:17
Well, what an array of mimics! I didn't realise so many hover flies mimicked both wasps and bumble bees, or that some moths mimic as well. Wonderful work you've done here.
Gerard Hoveling20-Aug-2016 17:01
Great pictures
Ulla Kruys30-Aug-2013 18:44
This is an excellent presentation of mimicry in the insect world! Fantastic captures! V
carlogalliani03-Dec-2012 08:04
Great gallery and beautiful images !
cits_4_pets20-Aug-2012 03:47
Great shots in this excellent and informative gallery. Excellent!!!

You are very knowledgeable about insects, bugs, spiders etc. Are you an entomologist?
Thanks for identifying some the litter critters in my gallery, I often have submitted pix to bug guide.net.
Dan the Man10-Jan-2012 01:07
Incredible! I never tought that Insect would be Actors like that! They should go to Hollywood! :-) Thank you for sharing!!!! VVV
christopheru21-Nov-2011 02:36
I have no idea how I missed this gallery - amazing images.
Guest 01-Sep-2011 14:17
Spectacular gallery, Christine. Your work and narration are outstanding. A++ BV
Ursula Armstrong27-Jul-2011 07:24
This is one of the most fascinating galleries! I have always marvelled at the clever mimicry in the insect world. And here are so many wonderful examples! Uschi (BV)
Patricia Kay24-May-2011 18:51
Excellent images with beautiful colors Christine...BV
an nguyen24-May-2011 18:33
Excellent collection .
Jean D10-Feb-2011 04:02
Superb and well varied collection. Thanks for the captioned information, Christine! ~V
jychamberland25-Nov-2010 01:47
beautiful colletion Christine!
debbie 26-Sep-2010 16:21
Today for the first time ever is saw this strange looking flying insect in my garden, your gallery of photos helped me to identify it as a Chalcosyrphus curvaria hover fly. thank you.
princess22-Aug-2010 22:08
Great collection. Each shot is excellent. Great work. Congratulations! BV
Gillian21-Aug-2010 18:59
Fantastic gallery, Christine! An outstanding collection of the various mimics we all see from time to time thinking that they are entirely something else! Now when I go out I find myself asking "is this a bee/wasp or a harmless mimic?" BV!
Gary Blanchette20-Aug-2010 21:48
It takes a special person to get this close.
Marielou Dhumez19-Aug-2010 14:03
Remarkable collection of insects !
Each pictures is so cleverly taken !
BV !!!
slhoornstra19-Aug-2010 08:04
Such remarkable and beautiful captures, congrats on your fine collection and great work. VVV
Brian Collins Art18-Aug-2010 15:29
great gallery. I have probably seen some of these while photographing flowers and thought they were the real thing.
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