Camouflage Practice

[Helen Summers]

Spotted this little beastie today, well camouflaged but not quite well enough. A nine out of ten I think.

 

[John King]

What was the actual colour of the moth, compared to the tree trunk? B&W may be a bit of a give away.

 

[Helen Summers]

What was the actual colour of the moth, compared to the tree trunk? B&W may be a bit of a give away.

The moth was on an oak beam which has weathered to silver and grey, though the darkest marks in the wood are pale brown where some of the old paint has been trapped in the grain when it was removed. The moth was also was silver and grey, with the darkest markings a pale brown. All in all it was a very good match. One of the things that struck me when viewing the image was how fibrous the wood looks. It actually looks and feels very smooth.

 

[John King]

One of the things that struck me when viewing the image was how fibrous the wood looks. It actually looks and feels very smooth.

Fluffy wood!

Now you point it out I can see why it feels that way, the outer fibres have become weather beaten and soft. I have seen the same on pilings sunk into the river bed they do the same (but smell!0