Źródło: Marta Skowron Volponi

Hornet moth mimics buzz and appearance of hornets to scare off predators, study finds

The hornet moth (Sesia apiformis) has evolved not only to look like a hornet but also to sound like one, a rare form of mimicry that fools predators into keeping their distance. According to new research led by Dr. Marta Skowron Volponi from the University of Białystok, the moth’s acoustic camouflage is so effective that robins—the study’s test predators—reacted to it almost exactly as they would to a real hornet.

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  • Source: Georgios Georgalis archive

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Źródło: Marta Skowron Volponi

Hornet moth mimics buzz and appearance of hornets to scare off predators, study finds

The hornet moth (Sesia apiformis) has evolved not only to look like a hornet but also to sound like one, a rare form of mimicry that fools predators into keeping their distance. According to new research led by Dr. Marta Skowron Volponi from the University of Białystok, the moth’s acoustic camouflage is so effective that robins—the study’s test predators—reacted to it almost exactly as they would to a real hornet.