Mimicry or Protective Colouration

Examples of mimicry can be found among our nighttime fliers. Along with protective colouration they are valuable tools for moth survival. It is hard for us to imagine that creatures of the night would require defense mechanisms such as either of these. The simple fact is that their predators have evolved hunting techniques that are highly effective at night and a survival strategy is still required during the day while they are at rest and are perceivably most vulnerable.

An interesting example of mimicry, in the moth world, can be found in some Tiger moths. Tiger moths, in general, are a distasteful insect and are primarily hunted by bats which using sonar to locate their prey. These Tiger moths are capable of emitting a supersonic sound of their own which warns the bats, that have the experience, that this is coming from a potential distasteful meal and thereby avoiding being eating by the bat.

On the other hand all these nighttime fliers rest motionless during the day perhaps clinging to the bark of trees. This is where their protective colouration comes in to play. Daytime predators use techniques that rely on vision to locate prey. So many moths have developed highly detailed cryptic wing patterns that make them virtually undetectable against tree bark. Another example can be found in a group of moths call "Bird Dropping" moths which mimic bird feces.

Some moths augment this camouflage with mimicry. The "Io" moth is a prime example. While at rest it is virtually invisible but if danger does present itself the Io will display an eye pattern on it's hind wings by vigorously drawing forward it's forewings thus giving the appearance of a larger or even potentially more dangerous quarry that has just been disturbed. This can serve to frighten off or at least startle a predator that might have deciphered the protective colouration and creating an opportunity to escape. By providing a second chance this makes an effective mechanism for survival.  Known as "flash colouration" this technique is used by underwings and sphinx moths as well as moths such as the Polyphemus.

These are a couple of specific examples of both forms of deception but the principles remain the same. Mimicry draws attention to the imitator and protective colouration does the opposite through disguise. Please refer to mimicry in the butterfly pages for any further explanations. The theory remains the same whether either strategy is use by plant, animal, insect or reptile.

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