Thanasimus formicarius (Coleoptera: Cleridae) The predator (family Cleridae) appears to mimic red wood ants (genus formicus) in size, color patterns (especially the head and thorax) and in the jerky running movements similar to ants. Probably the mimicracy helps the beetle avoid predation by birds which may not feed as readily on red wood ants as they can spray formic acid. Small children and naive adults that were curious what I was doing in the forest have mistaken the clerid beetles for ants.

Images © 1996 by John A. Byers, Chemical Ecology.