Moth

Fantasy Fact: Dragons' wings changed color during territorial conflicts and mating displays.

Scientific Inspiration: Many species use warning colors to deter predators. A familiar example is the conspicuous yellow and black banding of wasps, which advertises the fact that they are dangerous — i.e., before a bird learns the hard way, since both it and the wasp are likely to suffer. Many moth species are cryptically colored, but if their camouflage doesn’t work, they can deter a predator by suddenly bringing out brightly colored hind wings. A sudden flash of orange or red startles the predator, buying time for an escape. Sometimes the "flash" pattern takes the form of large eyespots, so the predator is suddenly confronted with what appears to be a threatening glare.