Sesiidae
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The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are a diurnal moth family in the order Lepidoptera known for their Batesian mimicry in both appearance and behaviour of various Hymenoptera.
Synanthedon tipuliformis
Synanthedon tipuliformis, larva
Melittia cucurbitae hovering for nectar
Synanthedon sp.
Batesian mimicry
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Batesian mimicry is a form of mimicry wherein a harmless species has evolved to imitate the warning signals of a harmful species in order to benefit from these signals' tendency to deter their mutual
Sesiidae
…The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are a diurnal moth family in the order Lepidoptera known for their Batesian mimicry in both appearance and behaviour of various Hymenoptera. The family consists of 165 genera spread over two subfamilies, containing in total 1525 species…
Plate from Bates 1861, illustrating Batesian mimicry between Dismorphia species (top row and third row) and various Ithomiini (Nymphalidae) (second and bottom rows). A non-Batesian species, Pseudopieris nehemia, is in the centre.
Henry Walter Bates described the form of mimicry that bears his name in 1861.
The yellow-banded poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas) has conspicuous aposematic coloration.
The hoverfly Spilomyia longicornis is an imperfect Batesian mimic of wasps, lacking their long antennae and wasp waist.