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Evidence for Batesian mimicry in a polymorphic hoverfly.

Malcolm Edmunds¹, Tom Reader

¹School of Built and Natural Environment, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE, United Kingdom. medmunds@phonecoop.coop.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|January 14, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Predators avoid palatable hoverflies that mimic noxious bumblebees. Study finds hoverfly morph frequencies align with bumblebee species, suggesting mimicry drives evolution.

Keywords:

Adaptation Volucella bombylans distribution natural selection polymorphism

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Behavioral Ecology

Background:

Batesian mimicry involves palatable species resembling noxious ones to deter predators.
Hoverflies (Syrphidae) often mimic stinging Hymenoptera (bees and wasps).
Evidence linking predator selection to hoverfly pattern evolution remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate geographical and temporal patterns in hoverfly morph frequencies.
To test the hypothesis that hoverfly morphs Batesian mimic different bumblebee species.
To assess predator-driven selection shaping hoverfly polymorphism.

Main Methods:

Analyzed frequencies of polymorphic hoverfly (Volucella bombylans) morphs across 52 sites.
Correlated hoverfly morph frequencies with frequencies of putative bumblebee models.
Employed spatial autocorrelation analysis to control for site-specific effects.

Main Results:

Positive correlations found between black and yellow hoverfly morphs and black and yellow bumblebees.
Positive correlations found between red-tailed hoverfly morphs and red-tailed bumblebees.
After controlling for spatial autocorrelation, only one hoverfly morph showed a significant relationship with its model, indicating localized mimicry.

Conclusions:

Hoverfly morph distribution suggests geographical variation in predator selection.
Differences in noxious bumblebee frequencies likely influence the evolution of hoverfly mimicry.
Predator-prey interactions and mimicry play a role in hoverfly diversification.