Springer Nature on Mythryl: “The bright and intricate patterns on butterflies might serve to…”

The bright and intricate patterns on butterflies might serve to create visual illusions that baffle birds — making it easier for the insects to avoid capture. Their markings can create appearance of movement in one direction, when in fact they’re going the other: spklr.io/63328EV8l2 🧪 🦋

spklr.ioThis is why butterflies are so hard to catchButterflies are incredibly evasive insects, with no predators that specialize in hunting them as they fly. Why this is has been a bit of a mystery, but now new research suggests that the patterns on their wings create optical illusions to mislead predators. This finding not only explains butterflies nimble dodging, but may also help researchers understand why many animals have stripes and patterns. Read the paper: http://spklr.io/63326EV8l0 00:00 New research reveals how butterflies trick predators 00:47 Few predators catch butterflies 01:46 High-speed footage reveals that butterfly patterns create optical illusions 03:48 How the optical illusion works 04:42 A video game to test how the illusion tricks predators 05:32 The illusion makes the butterflies appear to move more slowly 05:59 Computer evolution reveals how the illusion would lead to butterflies patterns 06:35 Why white butterflies didn't fit the theory 07:28 A note of caution 07:59 Other animals may also use similar tricks 09:28 George's butterfly socks Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday: http://spklr.io/63327EV8lF

15/10/26, 10:07 am4 reposts5 likes

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