resting, feeding, mating, or emerging from the pupa. The role of eyespots as antipredator mechanisms has been discussed since the 19th century. Several hypotheses are suggested to explain their occurrence. In some butterflies, particularly Satyrinae (such as the gatekeeper butterfly and the grayling), it has been shown that ocelli (eyespots) serve as a decoy, diverting bird attack away from the vulnerable body, and towards the outer part of the hindwings or the forewing tip. Research of Stevens et al. (2008), however, suggests that eyespots are not a form of mimicry and do not deter predators because they look like eyes. Rather the conspicuous contrast in the patterns on the wings deter predators. In this study, however, the influence of surrounding forms, like the head region of a predator, was not tested. Also the question why animals evolved such complex imitations of other species is left unanswered. References Further reading Garwood, K. M., Lehman, Carter, W., & Carter, G. (2007). Butterflies of Southern Amazonia. Mission, Texas: Neotropical Butterflies. External links Images representing Caligo at Consortium for the Barcode of Life Pictures of an owl butterfly Micropanorama of an owl butterfly wing Taxonomy Browser Upperside and underside photographs. Pteron In Japanese but with binomial names Pictures of an owl butterflies from Kenya Nymphalidae of South America Taxa named by Jacob Hübner