Float like a butterfly: insect’s wing patterns may trick predators with motion illusions

Stripes on wings are linked to stronger visual confusion, researchers find

When a bird lunges at a butterfly in mid-flight, it may see something that is not there — the insect’s wings flashing beneath may not be moving where they appear to be moving. By the time the predator realises the illusion, the butterfly already may have escaped.

Researchers studying this natural defence have found that contrasting wing patterns can work together with wing movements to create misleading motion signals, making it harder for predators to judge a butterfly’s speed and direction during flight.