Mimicry among Insects

Abstract

THERE has just come to hand (Entomologica Americana, 13, No. 3, published (as stated on cover) Nov. 29, 1933, but dated on every page December 1932) a most admirable review of the Polybiine wasps of the Nearctic region, by Dr. J. Bequaert. Unlike many taxonomic papers, it treats not only of the structures of the insects, but also, at considerable length, of their biology, everything being set forth in the most interesting way. There is a good account of the cases of ‘mimicry’ involving these wasps. Thus the wasps of the genus Nectarina, in the neotropical region, belong to an assemblage of diverse insects of similar appearance, of which no less than twenty-eight are cited. Dr. Bequaert recognises the objections to the term mimicry as applied to these cases, and proposes to speak of homeomorphy and homeochromy instead, these terms merely referring to the observed facts, without suggesting any explanation. This seems to be an advantage, though perhaps the shorter words isomorphy and isochromy would be preferable.