Butterflies and moths are known for being some of the most beautiful animals in the world. Monarch butterflies, for example, have striking orange wings, while luna moths have delicate green and purple coloring.
But in the forests of East, Southeast and South Asia, there lives a moth called Macrocilix maia, who’s known for having a bit more of an … off-putting appearance.
At first glance, Macrocilix maias’ wings appear to be white with brown, yellow and red splotches. But if you look more closely, you can see that the pattern on their wings bears a striking resemblance to two flies hovering over bird droppings.
It turns out that for Macrocilix maias, their unappetizing design actually serves an important purpose: protection.
“This incredible illusion doesn’t just look amusing; it’s a survival superpower, tricking predators into overlooking a perfectly edible moth,” The Untamed Paths, a Singapore-based eco-tourism company, wrote on Instagram.
When looking at a Macrocilix maia next to an actual fly, the similarity is shocking:
Macrocilix maias take the illusion one step further by adding a scent element to their stomach-turning looks.
“There are even reports of the moth emitting an unpleasant smell to accompany its camouflage,” the American Museum of Natural History wrote on Instagram.
As photos of this unique moth are shared online, many commenters have expressed both awe as well as confusion.
“This is actually insane,” one commenter wrote below The Untamed Paths’ Instagram post. “[How] does nature/life know what a fly … looks like?”
To understand why Macrocilix maias look the way they do, it’s important to remember that it’s not something they decided on consciously. Their appearance is the result of millions of years of evolution, during which small genetic mutations helped certain individuals succeed. Over time, the moths who survived and reproduced were the ones whose wings looked the most like flies.
While it’s undeniable that Macrocilix maias don’t look as graceful or dainty as other moths and butterflies, their distinctiveness makes them beautiful in their own way.
