A tropical horde of counterfeit predator eyes

I need a break from all the doom and gloom and oil spills so it seemed appropriate to enjoy the ingenuity of nature while it is still there...

It was assumed in science that birds only fear certain caterpillar's camouflage after encountering the animal they are trying to duplicate.

The scientist Daniel Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs and John Burns argue that it is in fact not the case. Survival depends on split seconds reaction in the animal kingdom and bird are no exception. So for a caterpillar to flash any kind of camouflage resembling eyes might mean the difference between being eaten or living to eat an other leaf...

We propose that these predators (birds) are variously and innately programmed to flee when abruptly confronted, at close range, with what appears to be an eye of one of their predators. Such a mimetic complex differs from various classical Batesian and Müllerian mimicry complexes of adult butterflies in that (i) the predators sustain it for the most part by innate traits rather than by avoidance behavior learned through disagreeable experiences, (ii) the more or less harmless, sessile, and largely edible mimics vastly outnumber the models, and (iii) there is no particular selection for the eye-like color pattern to closely mimic the eye or face of any particular predator of the insect-eating birds or that of any other member of this mimicry complex.

Here are some beautiful examples from the forest of Costa Rica....

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/733c4d835af630b4.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/d8ba57b21fca9ffc.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/a0891e052563801e.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/4fa1d9f48c913753.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/0a4e7143fa693a71.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/2d1d473de1a201d2.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/002571b9afd18888.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/50741ae344a4b18d.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/26738d70008fa066.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/c794b8a89f7d84f9.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/5283561875381c6b.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/7e6a135ae0decdc2.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/cc6c056f44e7b1b0.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/039511a1b5ada460.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/1297475769c63a6b.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/20848da1cef23fe6.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/46e60f09e361dd16.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/879c02437e94181b.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/1957252d47f9a39e.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/8a5359bd1c2f6309.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/f62fcb6475577e09.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/ff49f5c4086fbec0.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/6ca6b173b551532c.jpg[/atsimg]

Are they not beautiful?? well in their own way, at least.....

Now I have picked a few and these are just the small resolution ones. For the full experience visit the link.

A tropical horde of counterfeit predator eyes

VPRO Noorderlicht

Enjoy...

Peace









[edit on 17-6-2010 by operation mindcrime]

Does this count

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/a35ca9f13b08.jpg[/atsimg]

reply to post by booda

booda,

Hmmmm, I guess she would be pretty succesfull in scaring of birds....

(Is that Amy Whinehouse?? She has really let herself slip man..)

Peace

reply to post by operation mindcrime


Thats Amy Crackhouse alright....she really has gone downhill...

nice pics btw....

reply to post by booda


Thanx..!!

And these are just the kids. Look what daddy caterpillar can do....

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/c4e7be9de9085aae.jpg[/atsimg]
source: Utah Bug Club

Amazing, isn´t it??

Peace

Edit to add source

[edit on 17-6-2010 by operation mindcrime]

Amazing! It is so incredible what nature can do. Most people never have the opportunity to see such awesome examples of the world around us. Thanks for sharing!

its always amazed me how nature can figure these types of things out.
a mutation happens and by sheer reaction, it doesn't get eaten as fast as its neighbor.

i've also wondered how nature works its color palette in complimentary colors?
the color combos on plants and animals are mind bending perfectly complimentary.

thanks for sharing.

reply to post by jennybee35

jennybee35,

If you really take the time to look at nature you will notice what a worthless piece of electronics a television actually is....

Peace

edit: changed machinery into electronics. Don't know, it feels better.

[edit on 17-6-2010 by operation mindcrime]

This was just the mental break i needed, Thank You OP!

That picture of the "daddy caterpiller" was Amazing i think i just found my new wall paper!

Great thread S+F

~meathead

Originally posted by zooplancton
the color combos on plants and animals are mind bending perfectly complimentary.

You mean like one of these little fellows??

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/219de5a515dc6dcd.jpg[/atsimg]

It always amazes me how, even in us humans, this color combo, on an instinctive level, just shout :" Get the ... away from me, I will ... hurt you!!!"

But how did this innocent and harmless cousin (without any cool insect weapons) pull this one off??

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/f715dccb053b39e9.jpg[/atsimg]
(Syrphidae or hoverfly or flowerfly)

You would almost think that it "borrowed" that technique....

Hmmm...now I'm up all night finding out if flies have the ability to borrow stuff.

Peace

Originally posted by Mike StivicThat picture of the "daddy caterpiller" was Amazing i think i just found my new wall paper!

In that case allow me to give all credits for this picture to the Utah Bug Club.

Utah Bug Club

I have edited the original post so it mentions the source

*I have to remember to link to the original source with these pictures. Credit given where credit is due (or something like that)*

Peace

[edit on 18-6-2010 by operation mindcrime]

I know this is slightly off topic but since we are talking about complex designs, heres some pictures I took and was amazed with the amount of detail....I would love to see it under a microscope but this will do for now........

Snail

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/a7c702c32fc9.jpg[/atsimg]

Close up of Snail Shell

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b4dd8bbed86f.jpg[/atsimg]

Leaf

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/75bc7e43d545.jpg[/atsimg]

Close up of Leaf

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/0da4b99e3a12.jpg[/atsimg]

reply to post by booda

booda,

If it doesn't concern doom, gloom or oil spills it couldn't be off-topic!!!

Thank you for sharing these picture. It is really amazing how you can take something as "simple" as a leaf and be amazed at the fine structure and construction if you take the time to look.

Taking things for granted is comfortable but you also miss out on a lot of beautiful things.

25 Beautiful Macro Photography Shots

Peace

[edit on 18-6-2010 by operation mindcrime]