#wasps

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Yellowjacket-Mimicking Moth: this is just a harmless moth that mimics the appearance and behavior of a yellowjacket/wasp; its disguise is so convincing that it can even fool actual wasps

This species (Myrmecopsis polistes) may be one of the most impressive wasp-mimics in the world. The moth's narrow waist, teardrop-shaped abdomen, black-and-yellow patterning, transparent wings, smooth appearance, and folded wing position all mimic the features of a wasp. Unlike an actual wasp, however, it does not have any mandibles or biting/chewing mouthparts, because it's equipped with a proboscis instead, and it has noticeably "feathery" antennae.

There are many moths that use hymenopteran mimicry (the mimicry of bees, wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, and/or bumblebees, in particular) as a way to deter predators, and those mimics are often incredibly convincing. Myrmecopsis polistes is one of the best examples, but there are several other moths that have also mastered this form of mimicry.

Above: Pseudosphex laticincta, another moth species that mimics a yellowjacket

These disguises often involve more than just a physical resemblance; in many cases, the moths also engage in behavioral and/or acoustic mimicry, meaning that they can mimic the sounds and behaviors of their hymenopteran models. In some cases, the resemblance is so convincing that it even fools actual wasps/yellowjackets.

Above: Pseudosphex laticincta

Such a detailed and intricate disguise is unusual even among mimics. Researchers believe that it developed partly as a way for the moth to trick actual wasps into treating it like one of their own. Wasps frequently prey upon moths, but they are innately non-aggressive toward their own fellow nest-mates, which are identified by sight -- so if the moth can convincingly impersonate one of those nest-mates, then it can avoid being eaten by wasps.

Above: Pseudosphex laticincta

I gave an overview of the moths that mimic bees, wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, and bumblebees in one of my previous posts, but I felt that these two species (Myrmecopsis polistes and Pseudosphex laticincta) deserved to have their own dedicated post, because these are two of the most convincing mimics I have ever seen.

Above: Pseudosphex sp.

I think that moths in general are probably the most talented mimics in the natural world. They have so many intricate, unique disguises, and they often combine visual, behavioral, and acoustic forms of mimicry in order to produce an uncanny resemblance.

Several of these incredible mimics have already been featured on my blog: moths that mimic jumping spiders, a moth that mimics a broken birch twig, a moth caterpillar that can mimic a snake, a moth that disguises itself as two flies feeding on a pile of bird droppings, a moth that mimics a dried-up leaf, a moth that can mimic a cuckoo bee, and a moth that mimics the leaves of a poplar tree.

Moths are just so much more interesting than people generally realize.

Sources & More Info:

Journal of Ecology and Evolution: A Hypothesis to Explain Accuracy of Wasp Resemblances

Entomology Today: In Enemy Garb: A New Explanation for Wasp Mimicry

iNaturalist: Myrmecopsis polistes and Pseudosphex laticincta

Transactions of the Entomological Society of London: A Few Observations on Mimicry

[ratbugs]

wasmpssms

had an idea for a shirt i’d want to wear

hopefully will color it later

also if anyone knows how i can make my dream a reality please let me know i would love to make some bug shirts

[nemfrog]

Hymenoptera. Sketches of British insects. 1877.

Internet Archive

[etcstims]

Clean my face | source

[mathpope]

polistes exclamans x pogonomyrmex barbatus 👭🐜🤝🐝 (there is no wasp emoji)

[celestialmacros]

Caenochrysis doriae, a member of the cuckoo wasps

May 29, 2025

Southeastern Pennsylvania

Cuckoo wasps rarely stay still for me, but this one was very intent on whatever was in that crevice.

[cpericardium]

The time I opened an academic paper titled "parasitoid wasps" and read several sections about thermal temperatures in avalanche flow, wondering when the wasps were going to show up, before realising the file was probably mislabelled. "wow this sounds deadly and to think, the wasps haven’t even attacked yet"

[dogfennel]

wake again after rest

[shailion]

Fixed a wasp meme :)

[kedreeva]

My neighbors helped me pick up a new screen door and when I got there to catch a ride, I noticed a plate of honey, absolutely swarming with yellow jackets (on the plate and all over in the air). I asked her what was going on here and she told me that since I told her the yellow jackets were dying off at this time of year and were cranky because they were hungry since the hive young feed them and there's no more hive young, she's felt badly for them and been putting out honey for them.

We stood for a few minutes in this buzzing cloud of wasps and they just ignored us completely. She'd made a lot of friends through her small kindness, friends she hadn't known she could make.

[musiclovingmoth]

DON'T BELIEVE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

WASPS ARE OUR FRIENDS

[ratbugs]

they say they love insects but they hate wasps and mosquitoes

[hawkpartys]

so i forgot that i had a ziploc w gall specimens in it in my pocket so today at work i went huh whats this and then pulled a ziploc containing multiple live wasps out of my vest

[addicted2wasps]

Pretty self-explanatory, I think! Most wasps are small, parasitoids, and can't even sting! They're all beautiful in my eyes (even yellowjackets)! The Pompilid in the top left corner can sting, but it's not black and yellow, so it gets a pass.

Wasps FTW!

[jupiterswasphouse]

[VIDEO AND PHOTOS TAKEN: SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024 | Video and Image IDs: A video and two photos of a red/orange and black rusty spider wasp digging rapidly through sandy soil, covered in grains of sand /End IDs.]

Tachypompilus ferrugineus, the rusty spider wasp! This lovely lady is preparing a burrow for her young :]