Dead Leaf in Museum of Life and Science

Recently, we have been visiting the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina regularly. Every time we are there, we learn something new. On 12 January 2011, we spent a couple of hours there and learned a lot in the butterfly house. We have been admiring the beauty of butterfly. However, since they are pretty, how can they avoid attack from predators? We asked that questions to one of the keepers, Bobbie, there. She immediately pointed us to see the Dead Leaf butterfly she spotted a little while ago. When the wings of the Dead Leaf butterfly closes, it closely resembles a dry dead leaf. It is a spectacular example of camouflage.

This picture was taken in the museum and that butterfly was very much alive. It stood still there for a long while for us to have photos taken. It was extremely cooperative. It was smart enough to play dead to fool others but the butterfly house keepers have the knowledge to distinguish between dead leaf and Dead Leaf. And, we are learning from the smart keepers.