#hypolycaena

[rattyexplores]

Larvae - Pupa - Adult

Hypolycaena phorbas

15/01/22

[pongwira]

Hypolycaena amasa amasa #butterfly #hypolycaena #butterflywatching #insect #instainsect #insectmagazine #insectagram #insects_macro #macro #macroworld #macrophotography #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #natureofthailand

[libutron]

Large Fairy Hairstreak - Hypolycaena antifaunus (Ghana) | ©Karen Nichols

Hypolycaena antifaunus (Lycaenidae), an African butterfly commonly known as Large Fairy Hairstreak.

When at rest on foliage, these butterflies periodically oscillate their hindwings, which causes the long filamentous tails to wiggle. This draws the attention of predators to the rear of the butterfly, which has the appearance of a “false head”. Birds expect butterflies to fly forward, so they aim their attack just ahead of the insect . The back-to-front illusion created by the false head fools them into aiming behind instead, and the butterfly flies in the opposite direction and makes it’s escape [source].