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 ___________________________________________ 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 _________________________________________ Like our videos? Subscribe to MinuteEarth on YouTube: http://goo.gl/EpIDGd Support us on Patreon: https://goo.gl/ZVgLQZ Also, say hello on: Facebook: http://goo.gl/FpAvo6 Twitter: http://goo.gl/Y1aWVC And find us on itunes: https://goo.gl/sfwS6n ___________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________ 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. ___________________________________________ 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