Why do some butterfly and moth wings have such brilliant colours?
A. The colours of a butterflies and moths wings may serve several purposes. Colours are often used in courtship, so that male and female butterflies recognize each other as the correct species. Bright colours may also serve to warn birds or other predators that a particular butterfly, such as a Monarch, is bad tasting. Other butterflies and moths, although perfectly edible, may have colours that mimic the bad tasting species and thereby gain protection for themselves. Finally, certain colour patterns may help the butterfly or moth blend into its background and be protected from birds or other would be predators by “background resemblance” or camouflage.
