Butterfly defense

Some butterflies and moths have a defense system where they are able to excrete a poisonous gel when a predator attacks. Natural predators of butterflies are wasps, spiders, lizards, birds - and of course man.

The gel is sort of a yellow goo. It is not too harmful to humans, it only burns a little, but to another insect or even a bird or lizard, it might be enough to ward them off without too much bodily damage. This is a moth. To see a movie of this, click the butterfly photo (the one with the goo).

Another form of defense is to protrude the genitals toward a predator - it has no harmful effect but instead serves as something that might frighten a predator because it would be unexpected. This is a male Euploea Mulciber trying to ward off the human hand by exploding its hind quarters.

One other method of warding off predators is mimicry. Both caterpillars and butterflies use mimicry - and they usually try to imitate mammals - such as snakes. This butterfly is called 'snake eyes' as a common name.

This caterpillar also uses mimicry to look like a snake. Notice that the large section that looks like a head is actually the lower portion of the body beneath the head. Its color also serves as a camouflage, like many insects and animals.

Photos by Alan Wright - fellow volunteer 2006