Wing patterns vary greatly among butterflies. Researchers have
determined many of the mechanisms which allow butterflies to rapidly evolve new color patterns and mimic other elements in their environment. If you look closely at the wings of a butterfly, you may notice that a specific pattern is formed using both colors and lines of separation known as veins. The wing veins form shapes, many of which are polygons.
Communicating with Patterns
Wing patterns are an important form of communication for butterflies. For example, bright colors and patterns warn predators to "stay away." The bright orange of a monarch signals to birds that they are poisonous. Black-orange, yellow-black, black-red, and orange with blue spots also convey warning signals to predators.
The "eye-spot" pattern on the owl butterfly is meant to look like the eyes of an owl. It functions to frighten predators away by leading them to think the butterfly is actually an owl.
Some wing patterns are meant to serve as comouflage - they have dull
coloring and simple patterning. These patterns make the butterfly look so
much like their surroundings, that they blend in and the butterflies
cannot be seen.
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