A mimic is any species that has evolved to appear similar to another successful species in order to dupe predators into avoiding the mimic.
There are two types of mimics:
- Batesian mimics, where the mimic resembles the successful species but does not share the attribute that makes the successful species distasteful to predators.
- Mullerian mimics, where the mimic resembles the successful species and shares the distasteful attribute.
On the other hand, a honeybee is a Mullerian mimic of the wasp, since both share similar appearance and coloring, and both are capable of stinging.
See also: predator