Cognitive Dimensions of Predator Responses to Imperfect Mimicry
Figure 2
Colour Coats of European Bumblebees and a Stingless Mimic
(A) Bombus lapidarius; (B) B. terrestris; (C) B. pratorum; and (D) the fly Volucella bombylans. Note that (B) and (D) are considered part of the same mimicry ring [31], even though they are clearly distinct. But, a predator categorising by shape might respond equally to both, as to the highly distinct B. lapidarius (A), and the individual of the fly V. bombylans (D), which looks like no particular central European bumblebee species, but captures the overall essence of a bumblebee-like appearance (body shape, hair coat, and some form of stripes).
(Image credit: (A and B) by Tom Ings; (C) by Mike Edwards; and (D) by Rob Knell)