2017-05-31

[public] 1.83M views, 28.3K likes, dislikes audio only

MinuteEarth

It can be hard to distinguish bees from all the other insects out there that look like bees.

If you want to learn more about this topic, start your googling here:

- Mullerian mimicry: a type of mimicry in which two or more animals with defenses develop similar appearances as a shared protective device

- Batesian mimicry: a type of mimicry in which an animal with no defenses is protected by its resemblance to an animal capable of defense

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Credits (and Twitter handles):

Script Writer: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)

Script Editor: Alex Reich (@alexhreich)

Video Illustrator: Ever Salazar (@eversalazar)

Video Director: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)

Video Narrator: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)

With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Emily Elert, Peter Reich, David Goldenberg

Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder: http://www.soundcloud.com/drschroeder

Thanks also to our supporters on https://www.patreon.com/MinuteEarth

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If you liked this week’s video, we think you might also like:

A collection of "bees" that aren't bees: http://notabee.tumblr.com/

The Psychology of Mimicry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RJRNi-t_E

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References:

Brower J.V.Z. & Brower L.P., (1965). Experimental studies of mimicry. 8. Further investigations of honeybees (Apis mellifera) and their dronefly mimics (Eristalis spp.). American Naturalist 99:173–187. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/2459113.pdf

Dyer, F., Jan 2017, personal communication.

Franks, D. W. and Noble, J., (2002). The origins of mimicry rings. Standish, R. K., Bedau, M. A. and Abbass, H. A.(eds.) In Artificial Life VIII: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Artificial Life. MIT Press., pp. 186-191. http://alife8.alife.org/proceedings/sub2852.pdf

Pasteur, G., (1982). A classificatory review of mimicry systems. Annual Review of Ecology & Systematics, 13: 169–199.

http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.es.13.110182.001125?journalCode=ecolsys.1

Rettenmeyer, C.W., (1970). Insect Mimicry. Annual Review of Entomology 15: 43-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.15.010170.000355.

Wilson, J., Jan 2017, personal communication.

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Image Credits:

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) - Charles James Sharp

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Honey_bee_(Apis_mellifera).jpg

Sugar bag bee - Graham Wise

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tetragonula_carbonaria_(14521993792).jpg

Agapostemon virescens - Susan Ellis

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agapostemon_virescens.jpg

Amegilla cingulata bee - Chiswick Chap

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amegilla_cingulata_on_long_tube_of_Acanthus_ilicifolius_flower.jpg

Drone fly (Eristalis tenax) - Francis C. Franklin

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eristalis_tenax_and_flowers.jpg

Eumeninae Wasp - Joaquim Alves Gaspar

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wasp_August_2007-3.jpg

Sesia apiformis - Gyorgy Csoka

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sesia_apiformis_adult1.jpg

Lunate Blister Beetle - Bernard DUPONT

https://www.flickr.com/photos/berniedup/12748380493/

Plain Lacewing (Cethosia hypsea) caterpillar - Bernard Dupont

https://www.flickr.com/photos/berniedup/22723162703

Nymph of Green Milkweed Locust (Phymateus viridipes) - Bernard DUPONT

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nymph_of_Green_Milkweed_Locust_(Phymateus_viridipes)_(13983971884).jpg

Eristalis tenax - Wilder Kaiser

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eristalis_tenax_01Aug2009.jpg

Yellow Jacket Wasp - Wikimedia user Bombman356

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yellow_jacket_wasp.jpg