Moths in Disguise: these are all just harmless moths that have developed the ability to mimic wasps, bees, and hornets
Above: Eusphecia pimplaeformis, Myrmecopsis polistes, and Pennisetia marginatum
Moths are exceptionally skilled when it comes to mimicry, and there are thousands of moth species that rely on that tactic as a way to deter predators. Their disguises vary, but hymenopteran mimicry (i.e. the mimicry of wasps, bees, hornets, and bumblebees) is especially common.
Above: two wasp-mimicking moths of the genus Pseudosphex
Some of these disguises involve more than just a physical resemblance -- there are some moths that also engage in behavioral and/or acoustic mimicry, meaning that they can imitate the specific sounds and behaviors of their hymenopteran models. In some cases, these moths are so convincing that they can even fool the actual wasps that they are mimicking. Such a detailed and intricate disguise is unusual even among mimics.
Above: Pseudosphex ichneumonea is depicted at the top, and two unidentified moths from the genus Myrmecopsis and genus Pseudosphex are depicted at the bottom
Researchers believe that these disguises may have developed as a way to trick wasps into treating the moths like one of their own. Wasps tend to prey upon moths (and many other insects) but they are innately non-aggressive toward their own nest-mates, which are identified by sight -- so if a moth can convincingly impersonate its model, then it can avoid being eaten by predatory wasps.
There are many moths that can also mimic hornets, bumblebees, and cuckoo bees.
Above: Sesia apiformis, Sphecodoptera scribai, and Pennisetia marginatum
Moths are some of the most talented mimics in the natural world, as illustrated by their mastery of hymenopteran mimicry. But it's not just bees, hornets, and wasps -- there are many other forms of mimicry that can be found among moths, and the resemblance is often staggering.
Above: the bumblebee-mimicking moths Hemaris tityus and Hemaris affinis
Moths deserve far more credit than they receive, to be honest, because they are just so incredibly interesting and diverse.
Journal of Ecology and Evolution: A Hypothesis to Explain the Accuracy of Wasp Resemblances
Frontiers in Zoology: Southeast Asian clearwing moths buzz like their model bees
Royal Society Publishing: Moving like a model: mimicry of hymenopteran flight trajectories by clearwing moths of Southeast Asian rainforests
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