Mimicry in stingless bees: a review

In diverse ecosystems, mimicry, as an ecological and evolutionary phenomenon, emerges as a result of organisms adapting to their environment under selective pressures and plays a crucial role in understanding biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Bee mimicry is a widespread strategy in nature, where other organisms take advantage of mimicking honeybees and bumblebees, which possess powerful stingers as a defense mechanism. Stingless bees are key pollinators in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Despite their reduced or absent stingers, they are still mimicked by other insects in both morphology and behavior. This study reviewed the types and modalities of mimicry and discussed the diversity of insect mimicry and its ecological adaptive significance. We particularly reviewed the universality and importance of stingless bees as important models in insect mimicry in tropical regions. Studies have also found that the mimicry phenomenon of stingless bees involves not only visual modality but also other different modalities such as acoustic modality, and even behavioral mimicry like their flight trajectories. These findings provide new perspectives for understanding the origin and development of mimicry, emphasizing the necessity for in-depth research on the mimicry phenomenon of stingless bees to reveal their complex roles in ecosystems and potential conservation value.