In evolutionary biology, mimicry is an evolved resemblance between an organism and another object, often an organism of another species. Mimicry may evolve between different species, or between individuals of the same species. Often, mimicry functions to protect a species from predators, making it an antipredator adaptation. Mimicry evolves if a receiver perceives the similarity between a mimic and a model and as a result changes its behaviour in a way that provides a selective advantage to the mimic. The resemblances that evolve in mimicry can be visual, acoustic, chemical, tactile, or electric, or combinations of these sensory modalities. Mimicry may be to the advantage of both organisms that share a resemblance, in which case it is a form of mutualism; or mimicry can be to the detriment of one, making it parasitic or competitive. The evolutionary convergence between groups is driven by the selective action of a signal-receiver or dupe. Birds, for example, use sight to identify palatable insects, whilst avoiding the noxious ones. Over time, palatable insects may evolve to resemble noxious ones, making them mimics and the noxious ones models. In the case of mutualism, sometimes both groups are referred to as "co-mimics". It is often thought that models must be more abundant than mimics, but this is not so. Mimicry may involve numerous species; many harmless species such as hoverflies are Batesian mimics of strongly defended species such as wasps, while many such well-defended species form Mullerian mimicry rings, all resembling each other. Mimicry between prey species and their predators often involves three or more species.
Dismorphiinae, the mimic sulphurs, is a subfamily of butterflies from the family Pieridae. It consists of about 100 species in seven genera, distributed mainly in the Neotropical region, of which only one species occurs in North America and one genus, Leptidea, is in the Palaeartic region.
Müllerian mimicry is a natural phenomenon in which two or more well-defended species, often foul-tasting and that share common predators, have come to mimic each other's honest warning signals, to their mutual benefit. This works because predators can learn to avoid all of them with fewer experiences with members of any one of the relevant species. It is named after the German naturalist Fritz Müller, who first proposed the concept in 1878, supporting his theory with the first mathematical model of frequency-dependent selection, one of the first such models anywhere in biology.
Dismorphia is a genus of butterflies in the subfamily Dismorphiinae.
Dismorphia amphione, the tiger mimic white, is a species of butterfly of the family Pieridae. It is found from Mexico and the Caribbean down to Brazil and Bolivia.
Dismorphia theucharila, the clearwinged mimic white, is a species of butterfly of the family Pieridae. It is found from Mexico to Bolivia and the Guianas.
Lieinix nemesis, the frosted mimic-white, nemesis mimic white or falcate dismorphia, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found from Mexico to Peru. The habitat consists of mid-elevation cloudforests.
Dismorphia laja is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in northern South America.
Dismorphia zaela, the zaela mimic white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found from Costa Rica to Ecuador.
Dismorphia medora, the Medora mimic white is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Dismorphia zathoe, the zathoe mimic white is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. The species was first described by William Chapman Hewitson in 1858. It is found in Central America and northern South America.
Dismorphia lysis, the dainty egg white or Lysis mimic white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found from Ecuador to southern Peru. The habitat consists of cloud forests.
Dismorphia lygdamis, the catasticta mimic or Lygdamis mimic white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru. The habitat consists of cloud forests.
Dismorphia crisia, the crisia mimic white or cloud forest mimic-white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1782. It is found from northern Central America to Bolivia and the Amazon basin.
Dismorphia eunoe, the Eunoe mimic-white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found from Mexico to Central America.
Dismorphia altis is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Colombia.
Dismorphia lelex, the lelex mimic white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Ecuador and Colombia.
Dismorphia thermesia, the pretty mimic white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Guyana, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and western Bolivia. The habitat consists of transitional rainforests and cloudforests.
