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 sesiidsHeterosphecia pahangensis,Aschistophleps argentifasciataandPyrophleps cruentataresembles bothTetragonilla collinaandT. atripesstingless bees and, to a lesser extent, dwarf honeybeesApis andreniformis, whereas the sesiidPyrophlepssp. resemblesTachysphexsp. wasps. These findings represent the first experimental evidence for behavioural mimicry in clearwing moths.