# 'Accidental' mimicry

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/accidental-mimicry/63430>\
**Category:** Nature Talk\
**Created:** [March 29, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/accidental-mimicry/63430 "2025-03-29T13:30:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![broacher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/broacher/32/52883_2.png) [@broacher](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/broacher)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 1:30pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/accidental-mimicry/63430/1 "2025-03-29T13:30:59Z")

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The recent thread calling for mimicry examples made me think about species that mimic something else but in such a way that there’s no advantage to the mimicry, or – are only mimics from a human perspective. Example?

 ![2025 03 24 Birds Nest Fungi 40](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/8/2/826cede6bda76ff27888c426622a9ce1595a5bde.jpeg)  
The Birds Nest Fungi works because it’s a question of scale. Also, in its early form…  
 ![Screenshot_20250329-092836_iNaturalist](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/4/d/4dee04a98d333bfdbaf877585e62d57f2daf4aa1.jpeg)  
Toasted marshmallows anyone?

So, what have you seen out there that you would have no trouble calling ‘accidental’ mimicry?

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**Author:** ![erin-816](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/erin-816/32/57434_2.png) [@erin-816](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/erin-816)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/accidental-mimicry/63430/2 "2025-03-31T16:45:15Z")

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I’ll give it a go…maybe this?

_[Geastrum](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=63077&user_id=erin-816&verifiable=any)_ (Earthstars) which look like flowers to me, but aren’t bringing in pollinators

 ![Geastrum](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/0/f/0f515597607c6dfe88593907169b1bb5ed0c210f.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![ItsMeLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/49beb7/32.png) [@ItsMeLucy](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/ItsMeLucy)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/accidental-mimicry/63430/3 "2025-03-31T16:59:46Z")

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OK, because I have zero scientific training, my mind often makes connections it probably ought not to make.

When I see juveniles of _Membracis mexicana_, for example, my mind always does this…:

 ![stormtrooper-COLLAGE](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/3/d/3d5367abc966d081970d41487d1de65afd41f150.jpeg)

…and _Bolbonata_ do this:

 ![bolbonata-COLLAGE](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/1/4/140fbe22afd228d5544d1380f5f97597e1dda46d.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/accidental-mimicry/63430/4 "2025-03-31T20:06:54Z")

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> [@broacher](#):
>
> Toasted marshmallows anyone?

They always make me think of biscuits (in the American sense) rising in the oven. [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144745471](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144745471)

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**Author:** ![broacher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/broacher/32/52883_2.png) [@broacher](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/broacher)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/accidental-mimicry/63430/5 "2025-04-01T00:42:13Z")

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Beautiful shot! Yep, biscuits, or maybe smores – the original recipe with vanilla wafers?

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/accidental-mimicry/63430/6 "2025-05-31T00:42:38Z")

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Closed on May 31, 2025, 12:42am UTC

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