This is the same owlet moth as shown in the previous two posts. This time, I photographed it from the front.
Many species of moths have evolved to mimic the appearance of another animal. One of the most popular examples of this is the owl moth (Brahmaea wallichii) with two eye spots on either wing. With this ‘disguise’ the owl moth scares off predators She mimics the appearance of the great horned owl.
But can this be true? Unlike the much-loved butterflies who drift from flower to flower during the day, moths are nocturnal and spend most of their time being active at night. Who then sees the owl face on the moth wings in the dark?
The same question holds true for the face I see in today’s photograph? Does it have a function like scaring a moth predator away? Or is it only our human imagination that lets us see a face here?