Caterpillar mimicry. Macrophotograph of the elephant hawkmoth caterpillar Deilephila elpenor. Here, the front region of the caterpillar is seen with two pairs of false eyes (eyespots). The eye- spots are rounded, coloured black and white. The true head is small and black at lower left. Eye- spots are devices of mimicry. They resemble eyes and make the caterpillar, together with white body colours (seen here) appear large with a big head. Eyespots serve as an intimidation display to frighten away predators. Deilephila elpenor caterpillars feed on grape vines and Hypericum plants. This species occurs from Europe to Japan.

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