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Project Noah Nature School
Doleschallia bisaltide
Under attack by a flower mantis, a mimic of the common tiger, Danaus chrysippus, with a bright orange upper wing and a leaf mimic livery on the underside.
Adjacent to a small stream. Altitude 1000m.
A good example of natures crypsis, with two modes in play: mimicry and camouflage. Predators think twice about attacking this orange butterfly, reminded of the foul taste of the common tiger, whose caterpillar picks up the toxins from milkweed plants, its host food. This particular specimen us under threat from a hungry flower mantis.
Spotted on Aug 13, 2012
Submitted on Jan 28, 2013
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