Butterflies and Moths

42

Leave me alone!

Butterflies and moths are very good at letting their

enemies know that they do not want to be eaten.

Hungry birds, spiders, reptiles, and small mammals

are often scared away by aggressive displays. And

the bright colors and markings

of many butterflies and moths

warn predators that they will

taste rather nasty.

Resting on a leaf,

this butterfly could

be mistaken for a

lizard’s eye.

Dead smelly

When disturbed, the white ermine

moth pretends to be dead. If this

does not work, it

produces drops

of foul -smelling

yellow liquid.

I’ve got my eye

on you!

This fierce-looking owl

butterfly frightens its

enemies by displaying

a large “eye” on its wing.

It makes it look more like

an angry lizard than a

delicate insect.

US_042-043_Leave_me_alone.indd 42 02/11/17 2:40 pm