"Mimicry in Nature"

#11112818

1 April 2024

A Metalmark Moth is sitting and "dancing" on a leaf, mimicking a jumping spider in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on April 1, 2024.

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#11112811

1 April 2024

A Metalmark Moth (Brenthia sp.) is currently perched boldly atop a leaf, flaunting its flashy appearance. This tiny member of the Choreutidae family is engaging in dynamic movements, such as pouncing and pirouetting around its leafy "dance floors." It is also mimicking a jumping spider, its predator. These small moths, often adorned with metallic scales, are mostly active during the day and exhibit jerky, pivoting behavior. They may even fluff up their wings at extreme angles. Some tropical species, like those in the genus Saptha, display bright green metallic bands and are quite spectacular. The Brenthia genus members, frequently placed in their subfamily Brenthiinae, feature eyespots on their wings and effectively mimic jumping spider predators. In Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on April 1, 2024, a Metalmark Moth is observed sitting and "dancing" on a leaf, imitating a jumping spider.

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#11112812

1 April 2024

A Metalmark Moth (Brenthia sp.) is currently perched boldly atop a leaf, flaunting its flashy appearance. This tiny member of the Choreutidae family is engaging in dynamic movements, such as pouncing and pirouetting around its leafy "dance floors." It is also mimicking a jumping spider, its predator. These small moths, often adorned with metallic scales, are mostly active during the day and exhibit jerky, pivoting behavior. They may even fluff up their wings at extreme angles. Some tropical species, like those in the genus Saptha, display bright green metallic bands and are quite spectacular. The Brenthia genus members, frequently placed in their subfamily Brenthiinae, feature eyespots on their wings and effectively mimic jumping spider predators. In Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on April 1, 2024, a Metalmark Moth is observed sitting and "dancing" on a leaf, imitating a jumping spider.

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#11112813

1 April 2024

A Metalmark Moth (Brenthia sp.) is currently perched boldly atop a leaf, flaunting its flashy appearance. This tiny member of the Choreutidae family is engaging in dynamic movements, such as pouncing and pirouetting around its leafy "dance floors." It is also mimicking a jumping spider, its predator. These small moths, often adorned with metallic scales, are mostly active during the day and exhibit jerky, pivoting behavior. They may even fluff up their wings at extreme angles. Some tropical species, like those in the genus Saptha, display bright green metallic bands and are quite spectacular. The Brenthia genus members, frequently placed in their subfamily Brenthiinae, feature eyespots on their wings and effectively mimic jumping spider predators. In Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on April 1, 2024, a Metalmark Moth is observed sitting and "dancing" on a leaf, imitating a jumping spider.

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#11112819

1 April 2024

A Metalmark Moth (Brenthia sp.) is currently perched boldly atop a leaf, flaunting its flashy appearance. This tiny member of the Choreutidae family is engaging in dynamic movements, such as pouncing and pirouetting around its leafy "dance floors." It is also mimicking a jumping spider, its predator. These small moths, often adorned with metallic scales, are mostly active during the day and exhibit jerky, pivoting behavior. They may even fluff up their wings at extreme angles. Some tropical species, like those in the genus Saptha, display bright green metallic bands and are quite spectacular. The Brenthia genus members, frequently placed in their subfamily Brenthiinae, feature eyespots on their wings and effectively mimic jumping spider predators. In Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on April 1, 2024, a Metalmark Moth is observed sitting and "dancing" on a leaf, imitating a jumping spider.

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#10127730

5 June 2023

Eristalinus megacephalus is a species of hoverfly are important pollinators of flowering plants in a variety of ecosystems worldwide and uses Batesian mimicry to look like hymenopteran bees and scare away predators. Its appearance is also similar to bee flies (family Bombyliidae). E. megacephalus can be found in South Africa, Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, India, Java, Guam, Southern Spain, Turkey, North Africa, Iran, and coastal parts of Italy. The species is listed in 2: 63 of Rossi's publication Mantissa insectorum. There are no subspecies. It is the rarest species of the genus Eristalinus and is common but not abundant. The species' flight period is from May to October, and is most plentiful from June to July. This photo was taken in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal; India on 05/06/2022.

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#10127732

5 June 2023

Eristalinus megacephalus is a species of hoverfly are important pollinators of flowering plants in a variety of ecosystems worldwide and uses Batesian mimicry to look like hymenopteran bees and scare away predators. Its appearance is also similar to bee flies (family Bombyliidae). E. megacephalus can be found in South Africa, Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, India, Java, Guam, Southern Spain, Turkey, North Africa, Iran, and coastal parts of Italy. The species is listed in 2: 63 of Rossi's publication Mantissa insectorum. There are no subspecies. It is the rarest species of the genus Eristalinus and is common but not abundant. The species' flight period is from May to October, and is most plentiful from June to July. This photo was taken in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal; India on 05/06/2022.

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#10127734

5 June 2023

Eristalinus megacephalus is a species of hoverfly are important pollinators of flowering plants in a variety of ecosystems worldwide and uses Batesian mimicry to look like hymenopteran bees and scare away predators. Its appearance is also similar to bee flies (family Bombyliidae). E. megacephalus can be found in South Africa, Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, India, Java, Guam, Southern Spain, Turkey, North Africa, Iran, and coastal parts of Italy. The species is listed in 2: 63 of Rossi's publication Mantissa insectorum. There are no subspecies. It is the rarest species of the genus Eristalinus and is common but not abundant. The species' flight period is from May to October, and is most plentiful from June to July. This photo was taken in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal; India on 05/06/2022.

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#10127736

5 June 2023

Eristalinus megacephalus is a species of hoverfly are important pollinators of flowering plants in a variety of ecosystems worldwide and uses Batesian mimicry to look like hymenopteran bees and scare away predators. Its appearance is also similar to bee flies (family Bombyliidae). E. megacephalus can be found in South Africa, Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, India, Java, Guam, Southern Spain, Turkey, North Africa, Iran, and coastal parts of Italy. The species is listed in 2: 63 of Rossi's publication Mantissa insectorum. There are no subspecies. It is the rarest species of the genus Eristalinus and is common but not abundant. The species' flight period is from May to October, and is most plentiful from June to July. This photo was taken in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal; India on 05/06/2022.

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#10127738

5 June 2023

Eristalinus megacephalus is a species of hoverfly are important pollinators of flowering plants in a variety of ecosystems worldwide and uses Batesian mimicry to look like hymenopteran bees and scare away predators. Its appearance is also similar to bee flies (family Bombyliidae). E. megacephalus can be found in South Africa, Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, India, Java, Guam, Southern Spain, Turkey, North Africa, Iran, and coastal parts of Italy. The species is listed in 2: 63 of Rossi's publication Mantissa insectorum. There are no subspecies. It is the rarest species of the genus Eristalinus and is common but not abundant. The species' flight period is from May to October, and is most plentiful from June to July. This photo was taken in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal; India on 05/06/2022.

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#10127740

5 June 2023

Eristalinus megacephalus is a species of hoverfly are important pollinators of flowering plants in a variety of ecosystems worldwide and uses Batesian mimicry to look like hymenopteran bees and scare away predators. Its appearance is also similar to bee flies (family Bombyliidae). E. megacephalus can be found in South Africa, Egypt, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, India, Java, Guam, Southern Spain, Turkey, North Africa, Iran, and coastal parts of Italy. The species is listed in 2: 63 of Rossi's publication Mantissa insectorum. There are no subspecies. It is the rarest species of the genus Eristalinus and is common but not abundant. The species' flight period is from May to October, and is most plentiful from June to July. This photo was taken in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal; India on 05/06/2022.

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#8431840

21 June 2022

Hoverfly on a flower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on June 19, 2022.

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#7016854

31 August 2021

Bumblebee hoverfly in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on June 30, 2008.

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#6958324

15 August 2021

Hoverfly (Syrphidae sp) on a Black-eyed Susan flower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 14, 2021.

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#6958326

15 August 2021

Hoverfly (Syrphidae sp) on a Black-eyed Susan flower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 14, 2021.

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#6958328

15 August 2021

Hoverfly (Syrphidae sp) on a Black-eyed Susan flower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 14, 2021.

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