The Deceptive Art of Mimicry

When the word “mimic” is spoken, several thoughts may spring to mind. For the hearty adventurer, a mimic may invoke the image of a treacherous beast lying dormant in the form of an unassuming chest full of riches - awaiting an unwitting passer-by to open its maw and prompt an attack. When considering a biological approach, one may think of the clever tactics of the mimic octopus or the stunning vocal impressions of the lyre bird. To this point, mimicry is a trait often associated with high intelligence - after all, one must have a propensity to deceive if mimicking is the outcome, yes?

Well, as it turns out, that is not necessarily true. Though a magpie or crow may learn deceptive tactics and calls to get a one-up on their competition, others such as the hoverfly or the spider-tailed viper use mimicry as a basic survival technique - though in very different ways. Therefore, in nature, mimicry is loosely divided into four categories to account for such: “Müllerian”, “Batesian”, “Aggressive”, and “Rewarding”, with each variety drawing their own benefits.

For the aforementioned chest with a Cheshire grin, not only is this a dungeon master’s beloved but a fantastic example of Aggressive mimicry. Contrary to the title, this form of mimicry encompasses all species that appear completely harmless but in truth have an ulterior motive. This includes the likes of the orchid mantis, whose dainty pink and white hues allow this assassin to hide amongst orchid flowers and snatch pollinators out of the air for an easy meal. The goal of this form of mimicry is simple; by utilising the positive signals from another species, prey can be deceived into believing there is some form of benefit to be drawn from the interaction. However, for the unwitting fish, bird, or ant, this unfortunate misjudgement will be their undoing, as the veiled threat is only realised when the predator finally strikes.

On the opposite side of the coin to Aggressive mimicry is Müllerian mimicry. In this case, the species explicitly displays its propensity for harm - not in a deceptive move, but as a signpost to the surrounding environment. The greatest and most well known example of such is the tropical poison dart frogs and their vibrant neon colours, a clever warning system for the potent alkaloid toxins secreted onto their skin. This is exceptionally important to the viability of the species, as these warning signals allow predators to distinguish the individual from any other potential prey. After all, many of the species employing these tactics are smaller in size and thus, are exceptionally vulnerable, including poison dart frogs (6cm), wasps (1-2cm), and monarch butterflies (7-10cm).

Yet, for every good label, there is a counterfeit copy- this rings true even in biology, which has given rise to Batesian mimicry. Many a panic has been generated from a tiny black-and-yellow dart shooting through the air, only for all intensity to dissolve the moment the small bug floats harmlessly in place. This is in reference to the titular hoverfly, a clever little creature whose markings bear a striking resemblance to a wasp, despite the fact that they have no stinger. Indeed, those that exhibit Batesian mimicry are species that have evolved to copy the warning signs of Müllerian mimics without any corresponding defence mechanisms. That being said, some Batesian mimics can go an unusually long way for their trickery, such as the snake-mimic caterpillar; with a tail that has evolved to parallel both the shape and colour of a pit viper, alongside developing a behavioural faux-strike mechanism by wriggling and lunging its tail to further sell the disguise.

The final and the rarest form of mimicry is Rewarding mimicry. Under this bracket, the species produces bright signposts to the surrounding environment but remains non-deceitful in the boon they provide - though often, these signals are copied from one another. A fantastic example of this phenomenon are two flowers native to Southern Brazil & Northern Argentina: Turnera and Modiolastrum. These flowers have evolved to display similar petal shapes and bright colourations, which allows both species to benefit from the increased number of visiting pollinators.

Deception is so ingrained in the nature surrounding us, it gets difficult parsing the truth from the lies. After all, you’ll never know if some unassuming critter is being honest with its looks, whether its innocence is truthful or an aggressive deception. Alternatively, the next time you encounter a chest of gold slathered in the words “mimic”, you can ask yourself if this is a Batesian or a Müllerian threat - though I take no responsibility for any harm caused to your person, fictional or otherwise!

Zoë Gemell