Reactions of some adult passerines to Bornbus pennsylvanicus and its mimic, Mallota bautias

Adult Blue Jays, Brown Thrashers, Northern Catbirds, American Robins, and Song Sparrows were offered fresh frozen and thawed Bombus pennsylcanicus and its mimic, Mallota bautias , simultaneously with Tenebrio rnolitor pupae. Mealworm T. rnolitor larvae were offered separately in pairs as controls. Most of the birds refused the model and mimic, but all of the Blue Jays and some of the Brown Thrashers had specialized feeding techniques to deal with the aposematic insects. These techniques and other feeding behaviours are described in detail. Beak wiping appeared to be a displacement behaviour in Song Sparrows and American Robins. Predator — prey relationships are discussed briefly.