This thesis examines visual anti-predator strategies employed by the Lepidoptera. I examine
key aspects of pattern and behaviour and how they relate to the reduction of an individual's …

Many potential prey species possess features that falsely convey a risk to the predator. One
form of visual signal hypothesized to have this function are the circular features commonly …

Many prey species exhibit defensive traits to decrease their chances of predation.
Conspicuous eye-spots, concentric rings of contrasting colours, are one type of defensive …

Some resting moths can suddenly move their forewings to reveal large eye-like markings,
and it is believed that such behaviour startles predators and decreases the risk of being …

Eyespots have evolved in many lepidopteran insects, which suggests their adaptive value.
One of their hypothesized functions is that predators are intimidated by prey with large and …

The diversity of anti-predator adaptations in the natural world has long been an active area
of research in evolutionary and behavioural biology. A common visually-obvious feature …

Predator-prey interactions have resulted in the evolution of predator deterrence mechanisms
in a variety of organisms. One of these mechanisms is vertebrate mimicry, making the prey …

Eyespot patterns have evolved in many prey species. These patterns were traditionally
explained by the eye mimicry hypothesis, which proposes that eyespots resembling …

Many species of lepidoptera bear conspicuous circular patterns on their wings, known as
eyespots, that are hypothesised to protect their bearers against predatory birds. In this study …

Eyespots are found in a variety of animals, in particular lepidopterans. The role of eyespots
as antipredator mechanisms has been discussed since the 19th Century, with two main …