Butterflies use optical illusions to dodge predators
New research published in Nature reveals that butterflies use optical illusions created by their wing patterns and flight movements to evade predators. These illusions disrupt a predator's ability to accurately judge speed and direction during an attack.
Why it matters
This discovery explains a long-standing biological puzzle regarding how butterflies survive despite their conspicuous appearance.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source European swallowtail butterfly. Credit: Dr. George Hancock A bird attacking a butterfly will often find its beak snapping at thin air. According to new research, that split-second miss isn't just bad luck. It's caused by a visual illusion from the butterfly's wings.
The new study, published in the journal Nature by researchers at the University of Exeter and the University of Essex, provides the first evidence that a butterfly's flight and wing pattern work together to create powerful visual illusions. The illusions scramble a predator's sense of speed and direction, causing it to misdirect its attack.
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