MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Sawfly Ophrys orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) a common and colourful Mediterranean species, Lazio, Italy, April. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) locally frequent in the UK on limestone and chalk and widespread throughout Europe, Italy, May. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Bertoloni's Ophrys orchid (Ophrys bertolonii) locally frequent in Southern Italy, Torre Alfina, Italy, May. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Promontory orchid (Ophrys promontori) a species endemic to Gargano and a limited region of Southern Italy, May. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Spruner's Ophrys orchid (Ophrys spruneri) an orchid endemic to Southern Greece with a wide distribution. Has same pollinator as (Ophrys sipontensis) in Gargano, Southern Italy that has effected parall...

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Hybrid ophrys orchid (Ophrys x enobarbia) between Bertolonii's Orchid (Ophrys bertolonii) and Late Spider Orchid (Ophrys fuciflora) Italy, May. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Bertoloni's Ophrys orchid (Ophrys bertolonii) locally frequent in Southern Italy, Torre Alfina, Italy, May. meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Paul Harcourt Davies / Candia's Ophrys orchid (Ophrys candica syn Ophrys holoserica ssp candica or Ophrys fuciflora ssp candica) a rare species flowering slightly later than most other Ophrys in Crete and Southern Italy, Gi...

John Cancalosi / Sphinx / Hawk Moth Caterpillar (Xylophanes neoptolemus) showing clear snake-head defensive mimicry. Costa Rican tropical rainforest.

MYN / Clay Bolt / Treehopper (Telamona concava) on branch, Pickens County, South Carolina, USA, May. meetyourneighbours.net project

Loic Poidevin / European Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) in flight showing plumage mimicry of Sparrowhawk. The Vendeen Marsh, French Atlantic Coast, April.

Loic Poidevin / European Cockoo (Cuculus canorus) in flight showing plumage mimicry of Sparrowhawk. The Vendeen Marsh, French Atlantic Coast, April.

Loic Poidevin / European Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) perched showing plumage mimicry of Sparrowhawk. The Vendeen Marsh, French Atlantic Coast, April.

Loic Poidevin / European Cockoo (Cuculus canorus) showing plumage mimicry of Sparrowhawk. The Vendeen Marsh, French Atlantic Coast, April.

Loic Poidevin / European Cockoo (Cuculus canorus) showing plumage mimicry of Sparrowhawk. The Vendeen Marsh, French Atlantic Coast, April.

Nick Upton / Clearwing moth (Chamaesphecia masariformis) a mimic of wasps, resting on a leaf, Lesbos (Lesvos), Greece, May.

Nick Upton / A nectar-feeding species of Horse fly (Pangonius funebris), a carpenter bee mimic, using its long proboscis to forage on Milk thistle (Carduus marianus) near the coast with the sea in the background,...

Piotr Naskrecki / Treehopper (Umbonia crassicornis) mimicking thorn, La Selva Biological Research Station, Heredia, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Flatid Planthopper (Flatidae) thorn mimic, Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Northern True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) leaf mimic, Woburn, Massachusetts

Piotr Naskrecki / Bladder Grasshopper (Bullacris sp) leaf mimic, Silaka Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Mimetica sp) leaf mimic, La Selva Biological Research Station, Heredia, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Dead Leaf Katydid (Orophus tessellatus), Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Dead Leaf Katydid (Orophus tessellatus), Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Mimetica sp) decaying leaf mimic, Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Mimetica mortuifolia) leaf mimic, Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Giant Leaf Katydid (Celidophylla albimacula) leaf mimic, Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Giant Leaf Katydid (Celidophylla albimacula) leaf mimic, Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Giant Leaf Katydid (Celidophylla albimacula) leaf mimic, Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Mimetica crenulata) leaf mimic, Barbilla National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Tettigoniidae) newly discovered, yet unnamed species, Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Moth, newly discovered, yet unnamed species, Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Tettigoniidae) newly discovered, yet unnamed species, Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Green Sylvan Katydid (Lophaspis scabriuscula) leaf mimic, La Selva Biological Research Station, Heredia, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Microcentrum sp) leaf mimic, La Selva Biological Research Station, Heredia, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Maculated Leaf Katydid (Anapolisia maculosum) decaying leaf mimic, La Selva Biological Research Station, Heredia, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Mimetica crenulata) leaf mimic, La Selva Biological Research Station, Heredia, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Hebard's Katydid (Lophaspis hebardi) leaf mimic, Tapanti National Park, Cartago, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Mimetica crenulata) leaf mimic, La Selva Biological Research Station, Heredia, Costa Rica

Piotr Naskrecki / Rain Locust (Lamarckiana sp) mimics bark, Northern Cape, South Africa

Christian Ziegler / Katydid (Mimetica sp) mimicking leaf with small patches of fungus damage, Barro Colorado Island, Panama

Christian Ziegler / Left to right, from top: Nymphalid Butterfly (Mechanitis sp), Orange-spotted Tiger Clearwing (Mechanitis polymnia), Nymphalid Butterfly (Hyposcada sp), Tiger Heliconian (Heliconius ismenius), Nymphali...

Stephen Dalton / Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) with fly-mimicking flowers to attract pollinating insects. Umbria, Italy, April.

Piotr Naskrecki / Leaf Insect (Phyllium sp) camouflaged on leaf, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea

Piotr Naskrecki / Stick Insect (Oreophasma sp) camouflaged in rainforest, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea

Piotr Naskrecki / Katydid (Neophisis brachyptera) mimicking the veination of leaf, Papua New Guinea

Piotr Naskrecki / Planthopper (Ricaniidae) mimicking the veination of leaves, Papua New Guinea

Piotr Naskrecki / Beetle-mimicking Jumping Spider (Coccorchestes sp), Papua New Guinea

Piotr Naskrecki / Treehopper (Cladonota ridicula) camouflaged on branch, Guyana

John Cancalosi / Luna Moth (Arctias luna) newly emerged adult on a leaf, showing leaf mimicry. New York, USA, June.

John Cancalosi / Luna Moth (Arctias luna) newly emerged adult on a leaf, showing leaf mimicry. New York, USA, June.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Clearwing Borer (Sesiidae) adult on Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera sp.). This species mimics a wasp to deter predators. Comal County, Hill Country, Central Texas, USA, November.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Broad-headed Bug (Hyalymenus tarsatus) nymph on leaf mimicking an ant. Comal County, Hill Country, Central Texas, USA, October.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Broad-headed Bug (Hyalymenus tarsatus) nymph on leaf mimicking an ant. Comal County, Hill Country, Central Texas, USA, October.

Christian Ziegler / Brown Bee Orchid (Ophrys iricolor) flower mimics female bee with male solitary bee engaged in pseudocopulation, Sardinia, Italy

Christian Ziegler / Crucifix Orchid (Epidendrum radicans) flower mimicking milkweed to attract Heliconius Butterfly (Heliconius sp), Gamboa, central Panama

Christian Ziegler / King Spider Orchid (Caladenia pectinata) flower swarmed by male parasitic wasps who interpret the flowerÆs red lip as female wasp, western Australia

Christian Ziegler / Zebra Orchid (Caladenia cairnsiana) flower being pollinated by male parasitic wasp which is attracted to the flower by faux female wasp pheromone, western Australia

Nature Production / Leaf insect (Phyllium pulchrifolium) mimicing a leaf, Malaysia

Nature Production / Leaf insect (Phyllium pulchrifolium) mimicing a leaf, Malaysia

Andy Sands / Hover fly (Volucella pellucens) bee mimic lays eggs inside wasps nests where young live as scavengers, Hertfordshire, England, August

Juergen Freund / Black coral shrimp (Tozeuma armatum) camouflaged on whip coral, Batangas, Philippines.

Juergen Freund / Soft coral mimicing nudibranch (Ceratosoma alleni) crawling over tunicates on coral reef, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

Juergen Freund / Nudibranch (Phyllodesmium rudmani) mimicing a Xenia soft coral, Batangas, Philippines.

Juergen Freund / Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) impersonating a flatfish or flounder. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) with a Hairy ghost pipefish (Solenostomus sp.). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Coral shrimp (Tozeuma sp.) well camouflaged among purple fronds. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Nudibranch (Phyllodesmium briareum) on the sea bed. This nudibranch mimics a soft coral. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Coral shrimp (Tozeuma sp.) well camouflaged among purple fronds. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) camouflaged on coral (Muricela sp). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) well camouflaged on a Fan coral (Muricela sp). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Ambon scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) and similar-looking weed. This scorpionfish can change its colour for the best camouflage. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Harlequin or ornate ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus). These pipefish closely resemble coral fronds or seaweed. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) on the sandy bottom. This species is often found in seagrass, which it closely resembles. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus) on the sandy bottom, looking like a piece of seagrass. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Kim Taylor / Wasp / Longhorn Beetle (Clytus arietus) against a white background. Surrey, UK, June.

Kim Taylor / Wasp / Longhorn Beetle (Clytus arietus) on wood. Surrey, UK, June.

Kim Taylor / Wasp / Longhorn Beetle (Clytus arietus) against a white background. Surrey, UK, June.

Kim Taylor / Wasp / Longhorn Beetle (Clytus arietus) on bark. Surrey, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Thick-headed fly / Wasp fly / Conopid fly (Leopoldius signatus) a wasp-mimic parasitoid of adult vespid wasps, resting on Ivy leaves (Hedera helix). Wiltshire garden, UK, September.

Nick Upton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) holding Hornet hoverfly / Banded hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), a hornet mimic, which it has killed and decapitated on tarmac driveway after attacking it while it was feeding. Wil...

Nick Upton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) dismembering decapitated Hornet hoverfly / Banded hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), a hornet mimic, on tarmac driveway after attacking it while it was feeding. Wiltshire garden, UK,...

Nick Upton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) grappling with Hornet hoverfly / Banded hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), a hornet mimic, on tarmac driveway after attacking it while it was feeding. Wiltshire garden, UK, September

Nick Upton / Hornet (Vespa crabro) preparing to take off, holding Hornet hoverfly / Banded hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), a hornet mimic, which it has killed on tarmac driveway after attacking it while it was feedi...

Nick Upton / Wasp-mimicking hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cisalpinum) foraging on Crown daisy (Chrysanthemum coronarium), Corsica, France, May.

Nick Upton / Male Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) feeding on Wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris) umbel flowers. Corsica, France, June.

Nick Upton / Male wasp-mimicking Hoverfly (Ceriana vespiformis) close up, feeding on Wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris) umbel flowers. Corsica, France, June.

Nick Upton / Male wasp-mimicking Hoverfly (Ceriana vespiformis) feeding on Wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris) umbel flowers. Corsica, France, June.

Andy Sands / Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding on water mint. West Sussex, UK, July.

Andy Sands / Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) feeding on water mint. West Sussex, UK, July.

Alex Hyde / Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) camouflaged amongst dead vegetation. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK, September.

Alex Hyde / Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) camouflaged amongst dead vegetation.

Alex Hyde / Leaf insect female (Phyllium siccifolium), showing leaf-mimicry camouflage. Captive bred.

Alex Hyde / Gold spangle moth (Autographa bractea), showing leaf-mimicry camouflage.

Alex Hyde / Leaf insect male (Phyllium siccifolium), showing leaf-mimicry camouflage. Captive bred.