1. Topic: Mimicry in Insects
For UG students
Date: 13/05/2022
By
Dr. Sharda N. Padghane
Assistant Professor M.S.P. Arts, Science & K.P.T.
Commerce College Manora Dist.Washim
2. Mimicry
• Term introduced by English Naturalist Henry Walter Bates
(1862).
• The resemblance of one organism to another or to any natural
object for the purpose of concealment, protection or for some
other advantage.
• The organism which exhibits mimicry is called mimic.
• The organism which is mimicked or imitated is called a model.
4. Definition:
A/C Bates…. Mimicry as the resemblance in external appearance ,
shape and color between members of widely distinct families.
5. Reasons:
1. To be able to get close to unsuspecting prey.
2. In case of harmless species – gain protection by imitating either a
predators/ poisonous species.
3. Mimicry can be concealing /warming.
4. Mimicking species does not have to change its behavior /stay hidden all
the time to disguise itself.
6. CONDITIONS
CONDITIONS
• The mimics and models should occur in the same area.
• Mimics should be lesser in number than the models.
• The models should be unpalatable or harmful
• The imitation should be clear and visible.
8. Types
1. Protective (concealing) mimicry
When mimicry offers protection of the mimic, the mimicry is called
Protective (concealing) mimicry.
• Its wings and legs are green
like the color of leaves.
• Its legs are flattened and the
wings have a venation similar
to leaves.
• Thus, the insect cannot be
distinguished from the leaves
and it helps the insect to
escape from predators.
9. Ex 2. Stick insect
• Also called as walking
stick
mimics exactly the twigs.
• Stick insects have long,
cylindrical bodies, that
are stick-like in both
shape and colour.
• Their natural camouflage
makes them difficult
for predators to detect;
10. Ex. 3. Cryptolithodes
Conceal / comouflage either by
altering their coloration to fit the
background or search a background
which matches their color.
12. 2. Warning mimicry
• There are some harmless or palatable animals which mimic the harmful or
non-palatable animals. By this mimics warn the enemies and protect
themselves.
13. a) Batesian mimicry
Palatable animals mimics
the bad tasting /noxious
prey – predator unable to
distinguish between them.
14. b) In Müllerian mimicry, two
or more unpalatable species,
such as the cuckoo bee and
yellow jacket, resemble each
other.
Presumably, the more
unpalatable prey there are, the
more quickly predators learn
to avoid prey with that
particular appearance.
15. Presence of Cryptic structure
Ex butterfly
Caterpiller
Peacock ---
possess black spot on their wings /body.
For example, an adult female Mediterranean mantis, Iris
oratoria, take on a pretty scary threat pose. The mantis is
typically fairly well camouflaged, but when disturbed it
raises its front legs and opens its wings.
A warning saying stay away from me! In another case,
the eyed hawkmoth (Smerinthus ocellatus) is cryptic
when at rest but when disturbed displays its large
eyespots which it moves slowly as if it were a vertebrate
predator such as an owl.
16. Wasmannian Mimicry
Some insects mimic not only to
avoid predators, but to gain the
benefits of living among another
species. Wasmannian mimicry
occurs when one species evolves to
look like another species in order to
live commensally or parasitically
among them.
17. Self-mimicry • This refers to species that have one body part that mimics
another to increase survival during an attack or helps predators appear
innocuous to allow the prey extra seconds to escape.
