Red underwing moth. High-speed photograph of a red underwing moth (Catocala nupta) in flight. This moth protects itself from predators through camoufl

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Red underwing moth. High-speed photograph of a red underwing moth (Catocala nupta) in flight. This moth protects itself from predators through camouflage. It has long, streaked, brown forewings (upper left and centre) that blend with the trunks of trees when the moth is stationary. These are folded like a roof over the body, concealing the vividly-coloured hindwings (red and black, lower centre). The hindwings are flashed open to startle and confuse predators once the camouflage provided by the forewings is no longer of use. The red underwing is found in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia.

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Size: 4157px × 3387px
Photo credit: © DR. JOHN BRACKENBURY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, asian, camouflaged, catocala, european, flight, flying, high-speed, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, moth, nature, nupta, photography, red, underwing, wildlife, wings, zoology