The crazy thing about this is not just how evolution reverse-engineered what a snake looks like to a bird (or whatever preys on this moth), but also that some birds are born with an image burned into their brains labeled “avoid.” Snakes are such a problem to animals that may also prey on this moth, that a moth was able, over millions of years of evolution, to mimic that image through selective pressure. We’re not seeing here a moth mimicking a snake, we are seeing a moth’s wings resembling the image its prey holds in its brain of what it should identify as its own predator. An image that, itself, is held genetically and passed down from animal to animal, built by its own selective pressure. It’s amazing that this could produce such a clear image that’s immediately recognizable to us.
Alas Moths
Submitted 8 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to science_memes@mander.xyz
https://mander.xyz/pictrs/image/f4c17e44-0a0a-4d55-b6bb-4134f7173a3b.jpeg
Comments
General_Shenanigans@lemmy.world 8 months ago
xenoclast@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Or to boil it down: the more the ones who’s wings looked more like snakes had more babies cuz they’re weren’t dead.
Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca 8 months ago
The ones whos wings looked like what their predators think a snake looks like survived more often.
reinei@lemmy.world 8 months ago
I mean don’t we also sort of carry that same image (obviously not exactly, but sorta) in our genes?
rooster_butt@lemm.ee 8 months ago
Can someone explain the comment. What does “hot girl shit” even mean.
nightofmichelinstars@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
It’s one of Megan Thee Stallion’s catch phrases that she says in a lot of her songs, and she also uses a lot of snake imagery. She has a song called Cobra.
puppycat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 months ago
two cobras watching your back, undoubtedly
WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Two or three years ago it was just another snake cult, now… they’re everywhere.
fossilesque@mander.xyz 8 months ago
She slays.
apotheotic@beehaw.org 8 months ago
Moths are awesome, there’s no “Alas” about them!
DreadPirateShawn@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 months ago
I came for the alas, stayed for the atlas.
TriflingToad@lemmy.world 8 months ago
ngl it got me. It’s confusing attack was highly effective.
angrystego@lemmy.world 8 months ago
The butterfly is called Attacus for a reason.
Reddfugee42@lemmy.world 8 months ago
theacharnian@lemmy.ca 8 months ago
First step: Google it to make sure it’s not generative AI.
Second step: allow oneself to be amazed.
python@programming.dev 8 months ago
I am down to respectfully admire any snake, but moths freak me tf out sorry
meowMix2525@lemm.ee 8 months ago
Your loss tbh, moths are fkn awesome
python@programming.dev 8 months ago
I know, my brain is just very unhappy when it registers one :') I am getting better at it tho, only cried a little bit the last time a moth made it into my apartment
BlackDragon@slrpnk.net 8 months ago
Alas! Moths.
iAvicenna@lemmy.world 8 months ago
where is your god now?
NegativeLookBehind@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Nature is fucking amazing
mihor@lemmy.ml 8 months ago
Looks AI generated, LOL.
Ephera@lemmy.ml 8 months ago
It’s apparently also got the size for it:
Photo of an atlas moth sitting on a hand. Its wingspan is larger than the hand.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attacus_atlas
veroxii@aussie.zone 8 months ago
If I had 2 cobras watching my back I too would grow as big as I wanted without giving a shit.
idunnololz@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Wtf that looks sick