Types of Mimicry

Before I post some amazing examples of mimicry, I would like to comment on some important details of this natural phenomenon. A remarkable feature of this method is that it can be used for attack and defense. Predator or victim can be beneficiated by it. However, these processes can occur in different ways. This will depend on how the animal or plant is using their mimicry. Scientists believe that mimicry can be divided into 3 main ways according to the adaptive value for each species.

One of the most known forms of mimicry is Batesian. It was proposed by scientist Bates in 1862. According to him, this form of mimicry occurs when an animal or plant acquires features from other animal or plant but it does not affect the animal or plant model. For example, some spiders look like ants because ants are animals considered bad tested  for many other animals and therefore the spiders are not eaten.

The second form is Müllerian mimicry, this form has same principles of Batesian , mimetic model is not affected. The difference is that those  two beings have fancy colors or a very bad taste, this means that besides they acquire similar physical characteristics, they also get physiological features like the bad taste or poison. A classic example of Müllerian mimicry is monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, and  viceroy, Limnetis archippus. Both are unpalatable.   

The third one is Wasmannian Mimicry but this is a special form that we will see in more detail next week.

In my opinion, the most interesting form is the Mullerian because in this case the species evolved with remarkably similar characteristics such as flavor. How did it happen? Some scientists have found that monarch butterfly only acquires a bad taste when it feeds on a specific plant. This shows that everything is possible when animals or plants need survive.

What do you think about these two forms of mimicry?

Reference

Capinera, JL (editor) 2008, Encyclopedia of Entomology,  Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 4^th edn, Florida