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--001a11c29df01d96500503a9655e Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Likely, you've heard of the mimicry between the illness inducing Monarch and the perfectly edible Viceroy. This is an example of Batesian mimicry, where the mimic is not harmful, but benefits from looking like it is. Today, as I was setting up this week's lab, I saw a live bumble bee buzzing around the fluorescent lights. This is not a big deal given that we have a lot of bug nets on hand. A colleague came in while I was just getting ready to catch the bee and he commented on it as well. After a few swats, I got the insect. I brought it outside to release it...inverted the net and realized I didn't have a bee at all, I had a Gold-necked carrion beetle (*Nicrophorus tomentosus*), a completely harmless insect. Well, it had fooled even me, the local entomologist here at StFX. Drat. And to add insult to injury? I worked with this species (and others of its family Silphidae) for several years...and have published on them! Double Drat! Randy _________________________________ RF Lauff Way in the boonies of Antigonish County, NS. --001a11c29df01d96500503a9655e Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Likely, you've heard of the mimicry between the illnes= s inducing Monarch and the perfectly edible Viceroy. This is an example of = Batesian mimicry, where the mimic is not harmful, but benefits from looking= like it is.<div><br></div><div>Today, as I was setting up this week's = lab, I saw a live bumble bee buzzing around the fluorescent lights. This is= not a big deal given that we have a lot of bug nets on hand. A colleague c= ame in while I was just getting ready to catch the bee and he commented on = it as well. After a few swats, I got the insect.</div><div><br></div><div>I= brought it outside to release it...inverted the net and realized I didn= 9;t have a bee at all, I had a=C2=A0<span style=3D"color:rgb(37,37,37);font= -family:sans-serif;font-size:13.63636302948px;line-height:20.3636360168457p= x">Gold-necked carrion beetle</span><span style=3D"color:rgb(37,37,37);font= -family:sans-serif;font-size:13.63636302948px;line-height:20.3636360168457p= x">=C2=A0(</span><i style=3D"color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;fon= t-size:13.63636302948px;line-height:20.3636360168457px">Nicrophorus tomento= sus</i><span style=3D"color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:= 13.63636302948px;line-height:20.3636360168457px">), a completely harmless i= nsect. Well, it had fooled even me, the local entomologist here at StFX. Dr= at.</span></div><div><font color=3D"#252525" face=3D"sans-serif"><span styl= e=3D"font-size:14px;line-height:20.3636360168457px"><br></span></font></div= ><div><font color=3D"#252525" face=3D"sans-serif"><span style=3D"font-size:= 14px;line-height:20.3636360168457px">And to add insult to injury? I worked = with this species (and others of its family Silphidae) for several years...= and have published on them! Double Drat!</span></font></div><div><font colo= r=3D"#252525" face=3D"sans-serif"><span style=3D"font-size:14px;line-height= :20.3636360168457px"><br></span></font></div><div><font color=3D"#252525" f= ace=3D"sans-serif"><span style=3D"font-size:14px;line-height:20.36363601684= 57px">Randy<br clear=3D"all"></span></font><div>___________________________= ______<br>RF Lauff<br>Way in the boonies of<br>Antigonish County, NS.</div> </div></div> --001a11c29df01d96500503a9655e--
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