article_snippet.sent: The distinctive patterns on butterfly wings really do help protect the insects by mimicking the eyes of predators.
article_snippet.sent: Having bright colours and distinguishing features is a common way for insects to scare away predators like birds.
article_snippet.sent: Often they help to lure they away from vital body parts or confuse they.
article_snippet.sent: This helps to keep other birds that might normally eat the insects away.
article_snippet.sent: Images where the eye spots had been removed from the butterfly wings did not stop other birds that might normally eat the insects away from snatching a mealworm snack below the picture.
article_snippet.sent: Last year scientists at Oregon State University looked at the butterfly Bycyclus anyana and showed that it varies the intensity of it eye spots depending on the season.
article_snippet.sent: scientists at Oregon State University claimed bright colours in the rainy season allowed the butterfly Bycyclus anyana to confuse the dominant predators - preying mantids - while duller colours in the dry season helped scientists at Oregon State University hide from birds.