# Winning at Camouflage **URL:** \ **Category:** Nature Talk\ **Created:** [December 12, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324 "2024-12-12T14:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ra\_teo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/ra_teo/32/69859_2.png) [@ra\_teo](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/ra_teo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 1:49pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/121 "2025-03-16T13:49:15Z")
![1000016032](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/b/7/b7c6d6b3c6a76c4366e09f5d8dc4c6e05925b959.jpeg) This little [long-horned groundhopper](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/265389971) surprised me with its really good camo suit 😎 and just three millimeters long. ---
**Author:** ![jasonhernandez74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jasonhernandez74/32/33615_2.png) [@jasonhernandez74](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jasonhernandez74)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/122 "2025-03-21T00:42:17Z")
As it happens, just today I, too, came across [a grasshopper](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/266145016) winning at camouflage: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/8/8/8869844a4fc2c8ae86508cf3035dc2af195f2b82.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![sethshively](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/sethshively/32/68964_2.png) [@sethshively](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/sethshively)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/123 "2025-03-21T02:34:47Z")
![IMG_9361](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/8/b/8b1d08a94054a66bd3acbfe7413d0b08af148789.jpeg) This underwing moth’s dark stripes nearly line up perfectly with the cracks in the bark it is perched on ---
**Author:** ![lmtaylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/lmtaylor/32/30914_2.png) [@lmtaylor](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/lmtaylor)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/124 "2025-03-21T03:22:08Z")
![original(2)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/a/4/a4176c5a8da99e80cd6ea7cf812db4cec0a04e22.jpeg) Wavy-lined emeralds (or camo loopers as people around here call them) aren’t particularly rare, but I never consciously saw one until last year. Even now, when flipping through photos on this site, my mind usually goes, “bit of debris on flower, stop, look twice or three times, yes it is a looper …” There’s something delightful about the careful way they snip bits of petal to dress themselves in. ---
**Author:** ![ra\_teo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/ra_teo/32/69859_2.png) [@ra\_teo](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/ra_teo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 10:37am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/125 "2025-03-21T10:37:28Z")
![1000016791](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/c/b/cbf2fee00e8b012325983c377e2ad7c9c6316342.jpeg) A well camouflaged Spotted Wolf Spider, ([https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/266214548](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/266214548)) found literally by accident. ![1000016788](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/c/e/ce377215ccab53d3b0be4e7596fb198b102c4167.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Clip](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/clip/32/55785_2.png) [@Clip](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Clip)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 11:12am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/126 "2025-03-21T11:12:27Z")
![large](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/4/6459035bc1e55c6a664f3ce0a96163773a5b7cf1.jpeg) Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth ---
**Author:** ![Clip](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/clip/32/55785_2.png) [@Clip](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Clip)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 11:17am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/127 "2025-03-21T11:17:11Z")
![large](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/2/1/2152c8c8311468823d5fc8d1b9125a4d9f80a0cf.jpeg) Barred Yellow Butterfly ---
**Author:** ![Clip](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/clip/32/55785_2.png) [@Clip](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Clip)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 11:23am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/128 "2025-03-21T11:23:03Z")
This is probably my favorite for this Topic: ![large](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/4/9/49ef1c23f42381aa83854ca7bdb215e174052fd1.jpeg) ![large](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/2/62938e3313dc528188a3d40d5b8c7959ee042907.jpeg) Moustached Tiger Beetle ---
**Author:** ![Quercitron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/quercitron/32/41809_2.png) [@Quercitron](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Quercitron)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/129 "2025-03-21T12:18:13Z")
The Gray Treefrog (_Hyla versicolor_) is easily heard, but difficult to find, especially where bark is mottled with lichens. Image from [Observation 216380722](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/216380722): ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/3/1/31933999f7f0cb6e3a6da28bce3abf5a40f3e93d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![joeylikesbirds](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/joeylikesbirds/32/59736_2.png) [@joeylikesbirds](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/joeylikesbirds)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2025, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/130 "2025-03-21T13:27:42Z")
[This tolype moth caterpillar](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/228270772) was so well-camouflaged with the rock and I almost couldn’t see it! ![IMG_8076](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/e/6ebfd817da2bffacf012cf753ac407e9eb24ed82.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Clip](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/clip/32/55785_2.png) [@Clip](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Clip)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 11:29am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/131 "2025-03-29T11:29:18Z")
![007](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/9/69a694a6fc94658b8054e3acd65df98333fbac85.jpeg) Sharp-tailed Grouse ---
**Author:** ![chipperatl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/chipperatl/32/27720_2.png) [@chipperatl](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/chipperatl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/132 "2025-03-29T12:40:30Z")
The lacewing larvae camouflage themselves as detritus, using the leftovers of their prey. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/c/b/cb2a82a711ea20c0c479d7192ced5097d7e2cf51.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/5/a/5a515536728475d5710d660b884e8c0da4dee776.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![dhasdf](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/dhasdf/32/40579_2.png) [@dhasdf](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/dhasdf)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/133 "2025-03-29T16:59:13Z")
> [@chipperatl](#): > > The lacewing larvae camouflage themselves as detritus, using the leftovers of their prey. [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191377251](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/191377251) ![large](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/d/a/daa0309b330ec7a36a41673a9ae6c37094684cd5.jpeg) ![large](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/c/f/cfd16c6b885fa42c0591f68872720d8ecaf06a50.jpeg) Or using lichen: [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/249429303](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/249429303) ![large](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/5/6/565560700825d0f279fba60afeb1eda5d128a6eb.jpeg) ![large](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/1/2/12b27bf20f51ed1b0e7368e541b2db1047f5c9ca.jpeg) If they stayed still, maybe they would be “winning at camouflage.” Seeing a pile of dead bugs crawling around (or lichen crawling around) is kind of a giveaway. ---
**Author:** ![chipperatl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/chipperatl/32/27720_2.png) [@chipperatl](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/chipperatl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/134 "2025-04-01T15:07:21Z")
Bird poop moths ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/a/9/a9f92aa6b48720f32f036317d8cb1e20cdbf8c42.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/e/d/edece725e0636c29e990d5adb382633b5f495f2d.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/7/7/77421f32c7141bcaa29a3b62816d39a6ada43283.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/8/7/87467a779ba5e41a333984d3f7ef2834df0701e6.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/2/a/2ab9b91ee10414e354f93dc13346718447e3eccc.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/b/0/b073954074ccd68d0cf344e98db9ed79c23fa67c.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/3/f/3f2dc8492d351ebd98a6cff81e61daeee8e6067f.jpeg) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/3/4/34a31a4426dafaaa1c3eb68e8f4a44dac344dc90.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![whaichi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/whaichi/32/277_2.png) [@whaichi](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/whaichi)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/135 "2025-04-02T13:28:46Z")
There are a few _Phalera_ species in my area that primarily use one of two types of camouflage. Some look like bird poop – ![camo - phalera flavescens](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/2/c/2c98d9d12241b2fc2b5533ebe107df928ff31ec7.jpeg) _Phalera flavescens_ | 먹무늬재주나방 | [Observation](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54922438) While others look like pieces from broken branches – ![camo - phalera grotei](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/0/7/0764059cc68c7be59baa20bbce279b5a565bb9a9.jpeg) _Phalera grotei_ | Grote’s Buff-Tip · 배얼룩재주나방 | [Observation](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55561078) ![camo - phalera assimils](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/0/9/09b4a5197fc46a7885163b6a6aeaf42a21618872.jpeg) _Phalera assimilis_ | 참나무재주나방 | [Observation](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/184955496) ---
**Author:** ![austin\_ajit](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/austin_ajit/32/56031_2.png) [@austin\_ajit](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/austin_ajit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 10:33am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/136 "2025-04-06T10:33:01Z")
Try and spot the Indian grass mantis. ![1000919103](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/5/5/5523039bcf6492703c268422d9c93600ad08a679.jpeg) ![1000919106](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/a/6ab34e8f82149d7c0cda377439b08cf87726c9b5.jpeg) How about here? ![1000919124](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/9/e/9ef26c32bc929e0c254f60a72b7bbbfdef26ab1c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![austin\_ajit](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/austin_ajit/32/56031_2.png) [@austin\_ajit](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/austin_ajit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 10:33am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/137 "2025-04-06T10:33:57Z")
A close-up: ![1000919118](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/2/629f8a35d120504ca0077bac48c50117dc36cbb8.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Clip](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/clip/32/55785_2.png) [@Clip](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Clip)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 10:39am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/138 "2025-04-07T10:39:25Z")
Oak Toad ![DSCN8574](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/e/1/e1af7914431681bce610cce810029a99c67a38e0.jpeg) ![DSCN8575](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/6/b/6b07b3c35e53221b59dd782a18808b7d7d6fc062.jpeg) ![DSCN8575](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/8/4/844664a3961a84114f50041105d962cb7d2a61e4.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Clip](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/clip/32/55785_2.png) [@Clip](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Clip)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 12:37pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/139 "2025-04-07T12:37:05Z")
I have no idea what the insect is and I don’t think I have it posted on iNaturalist because I don’t remember where the photo was taken except that it is in Colorado somewhere and it photo bombed my flower photo. ![080 (2)](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/2/c/2cf1cfff26ab28709065121787a5c99448750d7b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![austin\_ajit](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/austin_ajit/32/56031_2.png) [@austin\_ajit](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/austin_ajit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324/140 "2025-04-07T14:36:12Z")
I think it is a crab spider, but can’t be sure. [Previous page](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324.md?page=6) [Next page](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/winning-at-camouflage/59324.md?page=8)