Locust borers are striking BATESIAN MIMICS of wasps — bright yellow-and-black banded body with zigzag black markings on yellow elytra. Bird and small-mammal predators avoid attacking the harmless beetle.
The wing tips of an atlas moth are shaped like a cobra's head — a mimicry believed to deter bird predators.
Wildlife agencies across Europe get thousands of 'hummingbird sightings' each year — almost all are this moth.
The orchid mantis's legs have flat petal-shaped extensions that complete the flower illusion.
Stick insects don't just look like twigs — many species sway gently when at rest, mimicking a stick in the wind.
Walking leaves don't just look like leaves — they have realistic vein patterns, simulated bite marks, and even spots that mimic fungal damage.
Dead leaf mantises mimic dry brown leaves — curled edges, simulated insect damage, leaf-vein patterns, the works.
