The insect world is full of creatures who have practically raised the principles of disguise and concealment to an art form. For predators and prey alike, camouflage is a critical survival tool, with coloration, patterning and even physical shape all playing roles in helping insects to conceal themselves from their hunters — or aid the hunters in hiding from their unsuspecting prey until it’s time to strike.
Many insects are particularly good not merely at blending in with one’s natural habitat but also at outright mimicry. They have evolved colors, patterning and other characteristics that allow them to resemble, with startling accuracy, other creatures or objects. For predators, it’s usually something innocuous or familiar. For prey, the goal is to mimic something unpalatable or potentially dangerous to a predator.
It would take a book to list all of the amazing insects that have evolved to hide in plain sight. But here we’ll take a look at five of our favorites.
