Mu¨llerian mimicry, in which two or more harmful species share a similar appearance formutual benefit, is a widely appreciated, yet relatively uncommon natural phenomenon.Although Mullerian mimicry occurs in vertebrates, most studies are focused on tropical,herbivorous invertebrates. Here we identify a large Mullerian mimicry complex in NorthAmerican velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). These are conspicuous, diurnal parasitoidsof bees and wasps that defend themselves with a powerful sting. We investigate morphological and genetic variation and ask whether morphological similarities are the result ofconvergent evolution or shared ancestry. We find that 65 species in the velvet ant genusDasymutilla can be placed into one of six morphologically distinct and geographicallydelimited mimicry rings. Mullerian colour patterns are primarily the result of independentevolution rather than shared, phylogenetic history. These convergent colour syndromesrepresent one of the largest known Mu¨llerian mimicry complexes yet identified, particularly inthe Northern Hemisphere.
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