What you see is what you get - or is it?
The world of insects is one of hunter and hunted. What you see is what you might catch! Achieving survival means maximising your chance of finding your own lunch while minimising the probability of becoming lunch for someone else: and colour and appearance play a crucial role in this game of life.
If you can’t hide - divert attention (1)
A number of butterflies and larger moths have very striking circular patterns, black spots with white markings, on their wing tips, bearing a resemblance to eyes. This is true of most of the family of ‘brown’ butterflies of which this Gatekeeper is a member. The Peacock butterfly and Emperor moths also have prominent eyespots. The eyespots confuse attacking birds, which go for the false ‘eyes’ and allow the butterfly to escape with only a damaged wing.
If you know someone else has got it - copy it (2)
The hoverfly has no way of protecting itself from a hungry bird: its defence is its colouring which closely mimics that of the wasp, known for its nasty sting.
If you’re sticking out like a sore thumb - change (3)
Many moths are nocturnal and need to find a safe place to rest during the day when hungry hoards of predators are out hunting. Hiding is even more difficult as most moths rest with their wings open, rather than folded like a butterfly. A number, like this Ringed Carpet Moth, are able to change their colouring so that they blend in with the place they have chosen to hide.
If it’s lying around - use it (4)
The caddis fly is a rather unspectacular insect that lays its eggs in or near water. The larva that hatch live in the water and have very vulnerable soft bodies with gills. They are eaten by trout and other fish. To protect itself the larva makes a tube from sand grains or small pieces of vegetation, so that it matches the environment around it.
The caddis fly is named after the caddis man, an old word for a pedlar: it was usual for these itinerant vendors to decorate their clothes with samples of their wares.
If you live in it - match it (5)
This stick insect (not a UK species) lives on rose bushes and has developed a remarkable resemblance to them. Can you tell which leaves are part of the bush and which are insect?. Most stick insects are wingless and move relatively slowly, so not being noticed is very important.
If you’ve got it - flaunt it: (6)
The bright colours of the Ladybird are a warning. They are avoided by birds because they exude a nasty-tasting fluid when attacked.
If your shape is a dead give-away - break up your outline (7)
Most butterflies rest with their wings folded together and for this reason many have subtle colouring on their underwings. The light and dark patterns on the underwing of this Wall Brown butterfly break up the outline of the insect and give the impression of dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Many other butterfly underwings are coloured to look like dead leaves and have denticulate edges rather than a smooth outline: an appropriate disguise for winter hibernation.
It is thought that a zebra’s stripes may provide a similar protection, making it harder for predators to see a definite shape.
Discussion Starters
1. Consideration of the use of camouflage by insects could lead into issues relating to visibility of people.
The importance of being easily visible on the road.
How soldiers use camouflage.
2. Many of the ways insects use colour and appearance to protect themselves mirror strategies used by people and can provide a way to introduce consideration of our own behaviour.
To blend in or stick out?
This is one of the driving forces for our materialistic culture, which is unsustainable in the long term and does not provide lasting satisfaction
We like to dress in ways that blend in with our peer group - few people feel comfortable with an appearance that may be considered ‘odd’. It is common to model our style on someone we admire.
Often, too, we would rather change our behaviour, even if it means doing something we would normally consider ‘wrong’, rather than stand out from the crowd. How many youngsters are sucked into smoking, alcohol, drugs, truanting and all that follows on because of this pressure.
Understanding ’Ouch’
It is a rare person who never find themselves reacting totally unreasonably to something small because it is ‘the last straw’. The strategies of insects may help us to look at how we ourselves, and those we meet, are handling the times when we are hurting. Such understanding may help us to avoid causing or receiving deeper pain.
People who behave as comedians are often hiding very deep hurts and insecurities by directing attention away from the pain and into laughter.
On the other hand, some people project a very intimidating and unfriendly image, which may also be an effort to hide deep vulnerabilities, like an insect’s warning colours.
Most of us, from time to time, indulge in collecting ‘things’ to make ourselves feel better: this is so common a phenomenon it has now become known as ‘retail therapy’.
Most of us also, for one reason or another, at times hide how we are really feeling.
Is this a good thing?
(This picture resource links in with the Science curriculum, life processes & living things, humans and other animals, living things in their environment and the PSHE curriculum, developing a healthy, safer lifestyle.)