A caterpillar’s disguiseSourced
A moth larva takes on a snake-like face
The moth Hemeroplanes triptolemus occurs in Central America and beyond. Its caterpillar can expand the front of its body, displaying eye patches that give it a snake-like appearance. It can also make a harmless striking motion toward a potential predator.
The disguise belongs to a caterpillar, not a snake.
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Hemeroplanes triptolemus · Wikimedia contributors
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Reviewed: 2026-10-10