#bee mimic

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

The Oriental Blue Clearwing Moth: these moths were regarded as a "lost species" for more than 130 years, until they were finally sighted again in 2013

For more than 130 years, the Oriental blue clearwing moth (Heterosphecia tawonoides) was known only from a single, badly damaged specimen that was collected in Sumatra in 1887. There were no recorded sightings of this species again until 2013, when entomologist Dr. Marta Skowron Volponi unexpectedly found the moths feeding on salt deposits that had accumulated along the riverbanks in Malaysia's lowland rainforest.

These moths were observed by researchers again in 2016 and 2017, and research indicates that the moths are actually bee-mimics, as they mimic the appearance, sound, behavior, and flight patterns of local bees. Their fuzzy, bright blue appearance might seem a little out of place for a bee-mimic, but those features do appear in several different bee species throughout Southeast Asia.

When the moths are in flight, they bear a particularly strong resemblance to the bees of the genus Thyreus (i.e. cuckoo bees, otherwise known as cloak-and-dagger bees), several of which are also bright blue, with banded markings, dark blue wings, fuzzy legs, and smooth, rounded antennae. The physical resemblance is compounded by the acoustic and behavioral mimicry that occurs when the moths are in flight.

Cloak-and-Dagger Bees: the image at the top shows an Indo-Malayan cloak-and-dagger bee (Thyreus novaehollandiae) in a sleeping position, holding itself upright with its mandibles clamped onto a twig, while the image at the bottom shows a Himalayan cloak-and-dagger bee (T. himalayensis) resting in the same position

The moths also engage in "mud-puddling" among the various bees that congregate along the riverbanks; mud-puddling is the process whereby an insect (usually a bee or a butterfly) draws nutrients from the fluids found in puddles, wet sand, decaying plant matter, carrion, animal waste, sweat, tears, and/or blood. According to researchers, the Oriental blue clearwing moth was the only lepidopteran that was seen mud-puddling among the local bees.

Dr. Skowron Volponi commented on the unusual appearance and behavior of these moths:

You think about moths and you envision a grey, hairy insect that is attracted to light. But this species is dramatically different—it is beautiful, shiny blue in sunlight and it comes out during the day; and it is a master of disguise, mimicking bees on multiple levels and even hanging out with them. The Oriental blue clearwing is just two centimeters in size, but there are so many fascinating things about them and so much more we hope to learn.

This species is still incredibly vulnerable, as it faces threats like deforestation, pollution, and climate change. The president of Global Wildlife Conservation, which is an organization that seeks to rediscover "lost species," added:

After learning about this incredible rediscovery, we hope that tourists visiting Taman Negara National Park and picnicking on the riverbanks—the home of these beautiful clearwing moths—will remember to tread lightly and to take their trash out of the park with them. We also recommend that Americans learn about palm oil production, which is one of the primary causes of deforestation in Malaysia.

Sources & More Info:

Phys.org: Bee-Mimicking Clearwing Moth Buzzes Back to Life After 130 Years

Mongabay News: Moth Rediscovered in Malaysia Mimics Appearance and Behavior of Bees to Escape Predators

Journal of Tropical Conservation Science: Lost Species of Bee-Mimicking Clearwing Moth, H. tawonoides, Rediscovered in Peninsular Malaysia's Primary Rainforest

Frontiers in Zoology: Southeast Asian Clearwing Moths Buzz like their Model Bees

Royal Society Publishing: Moving like a Model - mimicry of hymenopteran flight trajectories by clearwing moths of Southeast Asian rainforests

Medium: Rediscovery in a Glint of Blue

re:wild.org: The "Search for Lost Species" Project

[marcelwasp]

Bee mimicking flies wallpaper I made

Plus here's a better look and fully repeating pattern

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

A wee hoverfly (Toxomerus geminatus) resting on a blade of fennel.

[miyrumiyru]

Bumblebee-mimic fluffy and deadly robber fly!

빨간뒤영벌파리매 (Laphria rufa)

[textless]

[jenfoundabug]

Look at how cute this soldier fly is <3 While these flies do not bite or sting, their coloration mimics a bee or wasp as protection from predators. Stratiomys maculosa, Northern California

[brella-boi]

Day 7: Common Banded Hoverfly

My favourite little guys! They mimic bees and are very good at it

[methylphenidate-moth]

Some bugs and slug I’ve seen recently

[have-some-facts]

I just found out there is a bee moth.

Give me like 45 minutes to one hour and I will write about this creature. Because

Its

So cute

And cool

And I love it

So so so much

Just

Look at this

Btw, it can come to my country. Yea, I’m going to be outside a lot when it comes back here

[fnrrfygmschnish]

Found some variety of bee-mimicking fly while on a walk today. Two of them! And they were, uh... making more bee-mimicking flies.

For some reason the smaller one (the male I assume) was flapping his wings non-stop the whole time, making a VERY audible buzzing:

[theymightbebipeds]

What a wonderful find!!!!! Eristalis tenax, the common drone fly, and one of the largest & most wide-spread bee mimic syrphid flies globally. Seen resting on an ornamental bush, and posing very nicely for me to take its photo. My iNaturalist 📸: Nikon COOLPIX L820

[sastheforestspirit]

I can't believe I reblogged/ learned about the guy yesterday and today I met them in person. Volucella inanis as it seams// Trzmielówka dorodna

[astirysk2electricboogaloo]

cannot believe i didn't know soldier flies existed until just now. just met one. i thought she was a bee because she's a bee mimic! as a result i relocated her with the darkened orb™ (halloween orb crystal ball thing from the dollar store) which needless to say she was none too enthused about but she was happy to get back outside. fly on soldier, you're helping the environment

[miyrumiyru]

Family Conopidae (Thick-headed flies)

Females are parasite the bees (especially to bumblebees) by opening the victim's abdomen like a can (＠_＠;)

Adults feeding on nectar :P

(F) 산타로벌붙이파리 (Conops santaroi)

(F) Waisted beegrabber (Physocephala rufipes)

[textless]

[jenfoundabug]

The correct answer is A! The other two are flies mimicking bees/wasps.

A: Augochlora pura, a species of sweat bee

B: Sphecomyia vittata, long-horned yellowjacket fly

C: bee mimicking hover fly in family Syrphidae, species unknown

I’ll post more about each creature in the coming days.

Let’s play “Will it sting?”

(insert tacky game show music)

Creature A:

Creature B:

Creature C:

I'll post the answer at the end of the poll and link back to it here.