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Ruddy Daggerwing

Marpesia petreus

Habitat:

hardwood hammocks and wooded areas

Notes:

The EXTRA-ordinary defense of this butterfly lays in its camouflage. Spotted resting on the wall of the elementary school where I work, the students walked right by it without noticing it, most likely thinking it was a torn and dry leaf. It provided us with an extra-ordinary quick example of animal camouflage. Even when I pointed it out to the students, they were having a hard time believing it was a butterfly, until i gently tap it and it open and closed it's brilliant orange wings to the oos and aahs of my 2nd graders.

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2 Comments

Maria dB
Maria dB 12 years ago

Great that you could share that with your students!

Leuba Ridgway
Leuba Ridgway 12 years ago

This is one of the the best I've ever seen in camouflage. Fantastic spotting and photos Livan.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I am as impressed as your 2nd graders!!

LivanEscudero
Spotted by
LivanEscudero

Miami Gardens, Florida, USA

Spotted on Mar 23, 2012
Submitted on Mar 25, 2012

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