Butterflies in the genus Caligo are commonly called owl butterflies, after their huge eye spots, which

resemble owls’ eyes. The owl butterfly frightens its attackers by exposing a pair of startling eyes on its

wings. These false eyes resemble the eyes of an owl. They even have a glint of light to complete the

illusion and make the eyes real and life-like.

Owl butterflies are very large, 65–200 millimeters (2.6–7.9 in), and can fly only a few meters at a time.

Hence the avian predators have little difficulty in following them.

However, the butterflies prefer to fly in dusk. The Latin name may possibly refer to their active periods.

Caligo means darkness.