sulemania

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to get festive for christmas eve, the Christmas Eevee is being released onto the public to wreak as much havoc as possible on every ornament it can find before it evolves at midnight into a Decorateon

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Yellowjacket-Mimicking Moth: this is just a harmless moth that mimics the appearance and behavior of a yellowjacket/wasp; its disguise is so convincing that it can even fool actual wasps

This species of moth (Myrmecopsis polistes) is one of the most impressive wasp-mimics in the world. The moth's narrow waist, teardrop-shaped abdomen, black-and-yellow patterning, transparent wings, smooth appearance, and folded wing position all mimic the features of a wasp. Unlike an actual wasp, however, it does not have any mandibles or biting/chewing mouthparts, because it's equipped with a proboscis instead, and it has noticeably "feathery" antennae.

There are many moths that use hymenopteran mimicry (the mimicry of bees, wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, and/or bumblebees, in particular) as a way to deter predators, and those mimics are often incredibly convincing. Myrmecopsis polistes is one of the best examples, but there are several other moths that have also mastered this form of mimicry.

Above: Pseudosphex laticincta, another moth species that mimics a yellowjacket

These disguises often involve more than just a physical resemblance; in many cases, the moths also engage in behavioral and/or acoustic mimicry, meaning that they can mimic the sounds and behaviors of their hymenopteran models. In some cases, the resemblance is so convincing that it even fools actual wasps/yellowjackets.

Above: Pseudosphex laticincta

Such a detailed and intricate disguise is unusual even among mimics. Researchers believe that it developed partly as a way for the moth to trick actual wasps into treating it like one of their own. Wasps frequently prey upon moths, but they are innately non-aggressive toward their own fellow nest-mates, which are identified by sight -- so if the moth can convincingly impersonate one of those nest-mates, then it can avoid being eaten by wasps.

Above: Pseudosphex laticincta

I gave an overview of the moths that mimic bees, wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, and bumblebees in one of my previous posts, but I felt that these two species (Myrmecopsis polistes and Pseudosphex laticincta) deserved to have their own dedicated post, because these are two of the most convincing mimics I have ever seen.

Above: Pseudosphex sp.

I think that moths in general are probably the most talented mimics in the natural world. They have so many intricate, unique disguises, and they often combine visual, behavioral, and acoustic forms of mimicry in order to produce an uncanny resemblance. Moths are just so much more interesting than people generally realize.

Sources & More Info:

Journal of Ecology and Evolution: A Hypothesis to Explain Accuracy of Wasp Resemblances

Entomology Today: In Enemy Garb: A New Explanation for Wasp Mimicry

iNaturalist: Myrmecopsis polistes and Pseudosphex laticincta

Transactions of the Entomological Society of London: A Few Observations on Mimicry

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Biblically accurate Squirrel Girl

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Do you think 27 is still young?

I think 70 is young if you know how to move through the world

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file -> phrases that are going to shift something in me forever

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ROMEO + JULIET (1996) + IMDb Trivia

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dying at these reactions to chapter 40

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I feel like Alaira and Euini don't get enough love in this fandom. So I decided to fix that. To be fair here he looks absolutely miniscule compared to his actual size, but it had to be done for the drawing </3

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Marvel Holiday Special - “Humbug!” (1996)

written by Tom DeFalco art by Josh Hood, Andrew Pepoy, & Joe Andreani

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I overestimated my abilities with this drawing but I managed to draw 6 people in one drawing and not just completely die in the process

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I am very normal about this manga

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"Tired freelancer" Witch hat atelier @oryunart

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Qifrey 💜☂️💫

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Source: Fantastic Four (2022) #27

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13 - Sorcerer

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🍂Coco and Qifrey concepts for my fall WHA comic🍂