Moving like a model: mimicry of hymenopteran flight trajectories by clearwing moths of Southeast Asian rainforests.

Clearwing moths are known for their physical resemblance to hymenopterans, but the extent of their behavioural mimicry is unknown. We describe zigzag flights of sesiid bee mimics that are nearly indistinguishable from those of sympatric bees, whereas sesiid wasp mimics display faster, straighter flights more akin to those of wasps. In particular, the flight of the sesiids , and resembles both and stingless bees and, to a lesser extent, dwarf honeybees , whereas the sesiid sp. resembles sp. wasps. These findings represent the first experimental evidence for behavioural mimicry in clearwing moths.