What is the field and comparative evidence for quasi-Batesian mimicry?
Quasi-Batesian (parasitic) mimicry (+/−) is only one of three possible plausible relationships that may hold between unpalatable (or otherwise defended) mimetic prey, the alternatives being relationships that are commensal (+/0) or mutualistic (+/+) in nature. Indeed, if the defended co-mimics differ greatly in density, then I strongly suspect that it will pay the rare species to resemble the common species but that this mimicry will not markedly affect the efficacy of the signal already adopted by the more common prey species, such that the relationship will be commensal (Mallet 1999).
