Which predator avoidance strategy is illustrated by mimicry between hornet moth and paper wasp, and by viceroy and monarch butterflies?

• A. Mimicry
• B. Camouflage
• C. Mechanical defense
• D. Chemical defense

Answer: (A)

Mimicry is predator avoidance by resembling another species that predators avoid or dislike. The hornet moth copies the hornet’s warning look, so a predator that has learned hornets sting will think twice before attacking the harmless moth. In the monarch–viceroy pair, the butterfly that carries strong chemical defenses (and a bold warning pattern) is mimicked by the other; predators that have learned to avoid the toxic monarchs will also steer clear of the viceroy, gaining protection through resemblance. This fits mimicry rather than camouflage, mechanical defenses, or chemical defenses, because the protection comes from looking like another organism rather than blending in, using a physical weapon, or relying on toxins produced by the prey itself.