News Animals

Butterflies may lose their ‘tails’ like lizards

The spindly parts seem to be a magnet for birds and may break off easily, facilitating escape

yellow and black sail swallowtail butterfly on a pink flower

The sail swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) has tail-like projections on its hind wings that may divert attacking birds away from the butterfly’s vital parts.

Caroline Gauvin/Moment/Getty Images Plus

By Jake Buehler

On some butterfly wings, “tails” may be more than just elegant adornments. They’re survival tools too, a study suggests.

The tails seem to attract the attention of attacking birds, keeping them away from a butterfly’s more vital body parts, researchers report May 25 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.