Wasp Mimicry Case Studies

Wasp Mimicry Mimicry, essentially, is some type of resemblance between two unrelated organisms which improves the organisms’ chances of survival against a common predator. This resemblance can be seen in warning signs, typically visually with colors and patterns, but organisms can also have resemblances in smells and many other traits that deceive the predator into believing the insect is something that it’s not, saving the insect’s life. Mimicry typically involves three things: a model, a mimic, and a selecting agent (Boppré et al). Mimicry is affected by natural selection (Kikuchi et al). When an organism survives and deceives its predator, then those traits are passed on to the next generation. There are many types of mimicry including
In contrast to the typical mimicry system, this case involves the mimic (defenseless insect) and the model/ selecting agent (wasp) which is the same individual. The wasp in this case is a model, mimicked not only by other insects, but also other wasps (Pereira et al). This close resemblance between different species of wasps increases likelihood of survival, because predators will know to avoid certain patterns/colors without having to test it and attempting to eat one of the wasps. This works in the insects’ and the wasps’ favors. Based on this, it can be deduced that the mimicry of wasps by insects such as moths can be a combination of Mullerian mimicry and Batesian mimicry. Wasps don’t attack other wasps from the same nest, because it could be very dangerous. But it could be helpful to be able to differentiate themselves from prey that mimic them. Wasps have gotten better in being able to differentiate between mimickers and wasps from the same nest, hence the mimickers have to accurately resemble the wasps; meaning wasp resemblance is driven by wasps that can recognize other wasps from the same nest, and other predators such as birds seeking to prey on
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Boppré, Michael, Richard I. Vane‐Wright, and Wolfgang Wickler. “A Hypothesis to Explain Accuracy of Wasp Resemblances.” Ecology and Evolution 7.1 (2017): 73–81. PMC. Web. 9 Mar. 2017.

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Kazemi B., Gamberale‐Stille G., Tullberg B. S., & Leimar O. (2014). Stimulus salience as an explanation for imperfect mimicry. Current Biology, 24, 965–969.

Chittka L., & Osorio D. (2007). Cognitive dimensions of predator responses to imperfect mimicry. PLoS Biology, 5, e339.

Kauppinnen J., & Mappes J. (2003). Why are wasps so intimidating? Animal Behaviour, 66, 505–511.

Kikuchi D. W., & Pfennig D. W. (2013). Mimicry and the limits of natural selection. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 88, 297–315.

Pekár S., Jarab M., Fromhage L., & Herberstein M. E. (2011). Is the evolution of inaccurate mimicry a result of selection by a suite of predators? A case study using myrmecomorphic spiders. The American Naturalist, 178,