Meet Macrocilix Maia, the master of bizarre deception in the moth world, with a revolting disguise!
A moth that takes camouflage to a whole new level
This fascinating moth has a unique survival strategy – it mimics the unsettling sight of a red-eyed fly feasting on vomit and bird poo to deter predators!
Yummy!
By adopting this weird disguise, Macrocilix Maia manages to stay off the menu, fooling potential threats into thinking it’s something they’d rather not mess with. The moth even smells of bird droppings. Nature’s camouflage at its most amazing!
In our audiobook, Lost on Infinity, and our podcast series, Stories, Science & Secrets, we meet both an Anonymous Moth and, thanks to moth expert, Dr. David Lees from the Natural History Museum, the amazing Macrocilix Maia!
Resources for Teachers and Families:
Hear more about nature, science, and biomimicry in our podcast series, ‘Stories, Science, & Secrets’.
Download our FREE lesson plans and slides about Extinction and Biomimicry, themes in our stories.