Which of the following is an example of Batesian mimicry?
A Honeybee and hoverfly
B Sugargliders and flying squirrels
C Heliconius butterflies of the tropics
D Stinging bees and wasps
E Norman dressing up as his mother in the movie Psycho
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Honeybee and hoverfly.
Explanation of Batesian Mimicry:
Batesian mimicry is a form of mimicry in which a harmless or non-threatening species (the mimic) evolves to resemble a harmful or dangerous species (the model). The mimic benefits from this resemblance because predators avoid it, mistaking it for the more dangerous species. This mimicry helps the harmless species survive, as predators have learned to avoid the dangerous species due to its toxic nature or ability to inflict harm.
In the case of honeybees and hoverflies, the hoverfly (a harmless insect) resembles the honeybee (which can sting and is often associated with painful consequences) in appearance. The hoverfly does not possess the stinger or venom of a honeybee, but its visual similarity to the bee gives it a degree of protection. Predators, such as birds, learn to avoid honeybees due to their painful stings and potentially lethal consequences, and they transfer this avoidance behavior to hoverflies, thereby increasing the hoverfly’s survival rate.
Why Other Options Are Not Batesian Mimicry:
- B. Sugargliders and flying squirrels: Both are gliding mammals and not an example of mimicry. They are distinct species, and their resemblance is due to convergent evolution rather than one mimicking the other for protection.
- C. Heliconius butterflies of the tropics: This is an example of Müllerian mimicry, where two harmful or unpalatable species evolve to resemble each other. In Müllerian mimicry, both species benefit from reinforcing the avoidance behavior of predators.
- D. Stinging bees and wasps: This is another example of Müllerian mimicry, as both bees and wasps can sting and are harmful to predators, leading to similar evolutionary strategies.
- E. Norman dressing up as his mother in the movie Psycho: This is a human behavior example, not biological mimicry. It involves disguise or deception, not a natural evolutionary adaptation where one species resembles another for survival benefits.
Thus, Batesian mimicry specifically refers to the harmless species mimicking the harmful one to avoid predation.