Felix's Hairstreak (Evenus felix)

Amazilia Bioreserva, Amazonas, Peru. May 24, 2023

comments (8)

Thibaud Aronson

Lion

Easily one of my favorite genera of neotropical butterflies, this is only my second time seeing an Evenus. Last time was in the Yucatan, 6 years ago! Posted 2 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Wow, easily on the short list of most beautiful ones I've come across.
  I'm also pondering over the little tails that I think are there to misdirect a predator to the wrong end of the butterfly, yet this conflicts with every other part of the species screaming for attention. Perhaps a sensory overload for predators is the strategy. Posted 2 years ago
2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
    
    Lion
    
    I think the color is either aposematism (warning coloration announcing that it's toxic), or possibly some kind of mate selection/species recognition. And I agree that the little tails likely are meant to mimic antennae, so that if something were to take a bite out of it, it increases the odds that the butterfly would survive that first bite and escape. Posted 2 years ago