Butterfly changes color at night

[jonnybravo22]

Burgess butterfly turns almost completely black at night with 2 oddly luminescent white spots on him. anyone know the explanation for this? can you point me to any articles / threads?

it happens only when the lights go down and it's time for bed. guessing it's a defense mechanism sort of thing but it's so strange!

[auem]

butterflies do that i think...my moorish idol always changes to grey after light goes out...

[LemonLemon]

yes all butterflies adopt their night colouration when they sleep.

that includes turning a darker colour and often times, certain "characteristic" markings.

most butterflies including your burgess and other related species from that complex, including declivis, turn dark and develop the two white circles.

not all species have the same nocturnal colouration though. it varies from species to species.

very interesting

[michael_cb_125]

Lemon, is correct. My C. declivis get darker and gains his light "eye-spots" in the evening.

~Michael

[LemonLemon]

ah yes i was just walking to the kitchen and saw my little mitratus sleeping, it too has the "eye spots and dark coloured" night pattern like declivis and burgess.

[SDguy]

All my butterflies change color at night. Interestingly, the dark collare turns lighter!