Andreas Kay/Published on Mar 28, 2016
Snake-mimic caterpillar, Hemeroplanes triptolemus, Sphingidae from the Amazon rainforest near Puyo, Ecuador. When disturbed this larva of a sphinx moth expands and exposes the underside of the first body segments, mimicking a snake head with black eyes and even light reflections. Sometimes it also strikes like a snake to deter predators such as lizards or birds. Photos at www.flickr.com/photos/andreaskay/sets/72157665346553825
How exactly would that evolve? Wouldn’t structuralism (pre-existing patterns) make better sense than Darwinism (it somehow evolved by trial and error)?
Anyhow, with your coffee!!
Hat tip: Philip Cunningham, who also tips us off to the hummingbird moth:
DIVEGUY43
Published on Aug 9, 2016
A slow motion video of a Hummingbird Moth feeding on various flowers.A difficult video to make as these moths are very fast and hard to follow and keep in frame.This video was made with a Canon G16 using the slow motion setting for video.
More:
It doesn’t take long to be amazed by wildlife, in fact all one needs to do is simply to look closely. Many species have evolved to mimic other species as a survival mechanism and in the case of the Hummingbird Moth that is a truly an amazing thought. The wings of the humming bird moth are incredible and they hover just like the hummingbirds that give them their names sake. They are also a great example of why avoiding pesticides is so very important. Insects are the main staple of the food web for so many other species and also are amazing when we admire them with an open heart and open mind. …
And here’s a fun one: Metalmark Moth mimicking its jumping spider predator (talk about enterprise!)
See also: Genuine Clue To Why Orchid Mantises Look Like Flowers
Orchids with monkey faces:
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