Batesian mimicry in butterflies

Batesian mimicry in butterflies occurs when a harmless species evolves to resemble a dangerous or unpalatable species. This mimicry deters predators, who mistake the harmless butterfly for the risky one and avoid eating it. The mimic gains protection without having to develop its own defenses, relying on the warning signals of the model species. This evolutionary strategy increases the mimic’s chances of survival by exploiting the predator’s learned avoidance behavior, all while not having any real defense mechanism itself.