Clinging to the vibrant greenery in the Florida Keys, a butterfly is staring at you with multiple eyespots coloring its wings. Lepidopterists theorize that the circular concentric patterns have evolved to help the insect defend itself from predators in different ways — as a distraction, a disguise, or an intimidation. Bright high contrasting colors can be unusual and unappetizing to a hungry bird, and the large, eye-like shapes can make the butterfly appear to be a larger animal.

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