Caterpillar mimicry. The elephant hawkmoth cater- pillar Deilephila elpenor, perched on a grape vine. This caterpillar bears two pairs of false eyes (

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Caterpillar mimicry. The elephant hawkmoth cater- pillar Deilephila elpenor, perched on a grape vine. This caterpillar bears two pairs of false eyes (eyespots) on its body, rounded black and white structures, seen close to its head. The true head is small and black at far left. The eyespots are devices of mimicry. They resemble eyes and make the caterpillar, together with white body colours, appear large with a big head. Eyespots serve as an intimidation display to frighten away predators. Adult elephant hawkmoths are excellent flyers, able to hover over flowers and drink nectar. This species occurs from Europe to Japan.

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Size: 3937px × 2679px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, caterpilla, caterpillar, deilephila, elephant, elpenor, eyespot, hawkmoth, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, mimicry, nature, type, wildlife, zoology