Smart Adaptations and Mimicry
Few creatures in nature are as widely appreciated by humans as butterflies and moths. Not only are they often colorful and eye-catching, but graceful, enigmatic, and dynamic. Their clever and often beautiful adaptations, great diversity, and the almost miraculous nature of their life cycle are certainly part of their significant and widespread appeal, including of course to Vladimir Nabokov.
“I discovered in nature the nonutilitarian delights I sought in art. Both were a form of magic, both were a game of intricate enchantment and deception.”
–Vladimir Nabokov “Butterflies” The New Yorker June 12, 1948
Mimicry
Lepidoptera wings, with their spectacular patterns, colors, and shapes, capture human attention and admiration, but wings also serve a diverse set of functions. To avoid being eaten, for example, many moths and butterflies have physical adaptations that communicate to potential predators that they are unappetizing or poisonous, or trick them in other ways. Showing bright warning color patterns or mimicking the look of something inedible, are two ways butterflies protect themselves.
“[M]imicry had a special attraction for me...[it]showed an artistic perfection usually associated with man-wrought things.” - Vladimir Nabokov, “Butterflies” The New Yorker, June 12, 1948
Vladimir Nabokov had a particular fascination for mimicry in nature. In The New Yorker in 1948 he said the “mysteries of mimicry had a special attraction for me...the imitation of oozing poison by bubble-like macules on a wing...or by glossy yellow knobs on a chrysalis (’Don’t eat me–I have already been squashed, sampled, and rejected’)."
Aposematism
Wing spots and antenna-like tails on the wings can help butterflies fool predators into thinking the back of their wings are actually their vulnerable head . Look carefully at the tail end of the wings on this Faga Blue butterfly to see the false antennae.
Aposematism is the term used to describe ways in which an animal advertises to potential predators that it is not worth attacking or eating. Bright coloration and high-contrast are forms of aposematism as these are a signal to predators that an insect is distasteful or poisonous.
Follow this link to see a hairstreak butterfly show off its false head by wiggling its tail “antenna”
Some insects have concealed colors on their lower wings which they can flash when threatened. This bright unexpected color can startle predators, giving the insect a head start in escaping. In flight the predator then pursues this suddenly boldly-patterned prey and sets a search image for it. Then the insect can land somewhere around a corner, conceal the bold patterns with camouflage patterns on the forewings and elude the predator.
Some Lepidopterans have tail-like structures on their hind wings, which can be distractions or disruptors in various ways to protect the insects from predators. Lycaenid butterflies have tiny tails that are paired with spotted patterns on their hind wings. These insects are known for rubbing their hind wings together in a characteristic way that makes the tails look like antennae. A predator looking to eat an insect may be fooled and attack the hind wings instead, leaving the rest of the insect battered but still alive. To help with this illusion, the antennae and legs are banded to break up their outline, which makes them harder to recognize and interpret as part of the insect.