Golding Y C, Edmunds M
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
Proc Biol Sci. 2000 May 7;267(1446):903-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2000.1088.
Droneflies (Syrphidae: Eristalis spp. resemble honeybees (Apis mellifera) in appearance and have often been considered to be Batesian mimics. This study used a focal watch technique in order to compare the foraging behaviour of droneflies Eristalis tenax, Eristalis pertinax, Eristalis arbustorum and Eristalis nemorum) whilst they were feeding on patches of flowers with the behaviour of honeybees and other hymenopterans and dipterans. It was found that, on a range of plant species, the time droneflies spent on individual flowers and the time spent flying between them was more similar to that of honeybees than to the times of other hymenopterans and dipterans. These results suggest that dronefly behaviour has evolved to become more similar to that of honeybees and they support the hypothesis that droneflies are Batesian mimics.
食蚜蝇（食蚜蝇科：管蚜蝇属）在外观上与蜜蜂（西方蜜蜂）相似，常被认为是贝氏拟态者。本研究采用焦点观察技术，比较了黑带食蚜蝇、狭带食蚜蝇、黄带食蚜蝇和黑角食蚜蝇在花丛中取食时的觅食行为与蜜蜂以及其他膜翅目和双翅目昆虫的行为。研究发现，在一系列植物物种上，食蚜蝇在单朵花上停留的时间以及在花朵间飞行的时间，与蜜蜂的更为相似，而与其他膜翅目和双翅目昆虫的不同。这些结果表明，食蚜蝇的行为已经进化得与蜜蜂更为相似，支持了食蚜蝇是贝氏拟态者的假说。
