Chemical mimicry

that will cause a desirable behavioural reaction in the species being deceived and a selective advantage to the mimic, as in ant mimicry.

It can be used for such functions as deterring predators, drawing prey, to allow a parasite to deceive a host species, or to help assist in the reproduction of an organism.

[5] These spiders have replaced the need to spin elaborate webs to capture prey by mimicking the pheromones emitted by female moths to attract males of the species effectively.

[5] Parasitic use of chemical mimicry involves the invasion of the nest of a duped species, which may consist of an individual or a colony.

[2] In most cases this achieved by acting as a deterrent to other organisms by mimicking the chemicals emitted by another species that has a mechanism to deter predators.

There are two main types, the first being pseudocopulation which involves attracting male pollinators by mimicking the pheromones of females of the species.

[4] Pseudocopulation is achieved when a flower successfully mimics the appearance and the pheromones emitted by the female of an insect species.

[4][8] The chemicals emitted by the mimicking species work to draw these pollinators to the plant and increase the number of visits to and time spent on the flower.

[4] As a result, male mining bees are extremely attracted to the flowers of the spider orchid, triggering more quick visits to the flower and in some cases the male bees attempt copulation, either getting themselves sufficiently covered in pollen or successfully transferring it to another plant.