A Tribute to Darwin, the Genius of Evolution

2009 is the year that marks the bicentennary of Charles Darwin's birth. It is also the 150th anniversary of Darwin's path- breaking work, 'On the Origin of Species'. Darwin changed the thinking pattern of the 19th century scientists by his theory of Evolution through Natural Selection. My post today is a tribute to this great man.
Evolution through camouflage is seen very often by the gardener. The mynah bird has come to my pocket pond in search of water and food. But the food escaped its notice.

The tiny frogs are the colour of the rocks around to escape from their predators. Survival!

The Danaid Eggfly is a slow flying butterfly. It also takes rest for long spells on its favourite flowers. But it has nothing to fear, because its spots mislead the frogs and birds into thinking it is an animal.The spots look like the eyes and markings on a kitten.

This beetle on the croton escapes its natural predators as well as the most intelligent animal on the planet, namely human being, by taking on the colours of the leaves it lives on.

Creatures resort to camouflage not only to escape predators, but also to hunt for food. This waiting spider on the dahlia has become almost transparent . It catches the unwary butterfly which lands on the dahlia. I do have a picture where the spider is enjoying his dinner of a butterfly, but I feel squeemish to look at it. But that is Evolution!