We are all phenotypes! A phenotype is what is produced by the interaction of our genetic code (genotype) with the … More
Category: Mimicry
A lovely chocolate and yellow butterfly!
The Chocolate albatross (Appias lyncida) is a fairly common butterfly in Asia, which can be found from Sri Lanka to … More
Jezebels with gorgeous warning colours
These delightfully coloured, red, yellow and black Delias species – such as the Red-spot Jezebel (Delias descombesi descombesi) (above) – … More
Polymorphic mating in bumblebee hoverflies
I was very fortunate, I think, to come across this mating pair of bumblebee hoverflies (Volucella bombylans), which are well-known … More
How to build a butterfly!
The upper wing surfaces of butterflies are often brightly coloured and visually highly apparent (above), whilst the undersides are usually … More
Sexual dimorphism: when Mr and Mrs butterfly dress differently!
Why is that in some butterflies, the sexes are identical, whereas in other species the male and female are very … More
Two hornet mimics and a new model!
I had the pleasure of coming across two large fly species in Spain this summer, both of which are thought … More
Polymorphic mimics: flies that look like bumblebees
Most of us can tell a bee from a fly, can’t we? We all have an idea about what each … More
A clearwing tiger moth
Clearwing tiger moths, also called Wasp moths (Syntomini, Arctiinae, Erebidae), are somewhat similar in appearance to clear-wing moths in the … More
A tale of a black moth: a Müllerian mimic in Thailand?
This is a story of a moth, Histia flabellicornis (Zygaenidae), which is a Müllerian mimic, which means that it is an … More
