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Zaretis isidora
Dead leaf with legs! I saw a bright orange butterfly fly past and followed it to where I thought it landed, and all I could see on the tree were green leaves, and one dead leaf. Looked all over and was about to give up, when the dead leaf moved! Wiki says, If disturbed, or if clouds temporarily obscure the sun, they fly up into trees and settle under leaves or small branches. The Charaxine genera Coenophlebia and Zaretis are among the most convincing dead leaf mimics in the insect world, coloured like dead dry leaves, complete with a fake "midrib" and "leaf-mould" mottling.
Seen on a bush beside a river that ran through primary rainforest in Selva Verde, Costa Rica. This species is found in rainforest and humid deciduous forest at altitudes between about 0-600m.
Possibly Zaretis isodora, Isodora Leafwing
Thanks leonardo, Mark, martin and Laureni for your input.... interesting conversation...
Lets consider this an 'accurate' copy of a leaf rather that 'perfect'. Most butterflies are less accurate copies. Nature (predators) is the agent of selecting more accurate variations and therefore evolution is never random as some people assume. When we see this accurate copy we feel amazed and it looks like intelligence. If additional intelligence is required, we need another agent and another mechanism. Is not natural selection the only mechanism we know of?
Leonardo you are most welcome... A very interesting topic for "ramblings" I am often in wonder at nature and her amazing designs, colours and "tricks of the trade!" And this dead leaf butterfly is a perfect example. I also wonder how it became such an exact replica. The chance of imperfection seems too simple an explanation.
I agree Leonardo. My husband and I are always having a discussion about how "random" evolution really is. I think there is more to it than just random selection because the perfection achieved in many, if not most, cases of mimicry is just far more than necessary to achieve protection.
Thank you, Mark. We managed to understand the logic embedded in theory, but in practice, understand such a thing happening is simply unimaginable. Sometimes I think that even the brilliant Darwin's theory, by itself, is a bit unable to explain, in some special cases, all this perfection and coordination. Ramblings... :) pamsai, thanks for the space and I'm sorry to use your spotting for something a little off topic. ;)
Leonardo I think not 'intelligence' but simple logic. Nature is never perfect and that's how it works. An 'imperfection' occurs that is advantageous so the next generation is more likely to have that advantage. I agree it is incredibly beautiful and very impressive though. Such detail in this mimic. I'm still curious about the evolution of behaviour that must go with it. So many Lepidopterans seem to know exactly where and how to land even though their flight often looks so chaotic to us. Love it all !!
I'm sorry, an enthusiastic comment now. :) Would any of our friends here explain to me, please, how a simple evolutionary process, perhaps even with its millions of years of activity, achieves this result? What kind of intelligent mechanism noted that this would be useful for the survival of the species and what kind of mechanism could copy the exact look of a dried leaf, exactly like a designer who observes and then draw it freehand? Nature is perfect. Thank you! :)
What a Marvel - Well done Pam ! ..an exciting find. I love the little "hole" in the ? hind wing.
Spotted on Jul 17, 2013
Submitted on Sep 10, 2013
