Ikakushoku (English spelling) threatening coloration

Japanese: 威嚇色 - いかくしょく（英語表記）threatening coloration

A type of signal coloration in animals, which is thought to be a way to avoid predation by using particularly conspicuous colors, markings, or shapes. For example, the eye-like patterns of swallowtail butterfly larvae are an example, but considering that these larvae also protrude their foul-smelling horns, they can also be considered a warning color. However, in general, threatening colors are not just conspicuous, but often also strange or bizarre to the human eye. When a moth with bright markings only on its hind wings, such as the Akebikonoha moth, suddenly takes flight, it is thought that this can have a threatening effect. It is difficult to tell whether a predator is actually startled, but experiments have confirmed that the eye-shaped patterns on insect wings have a threatening effect on birds.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

動物の標識色 signal colorationの一型で，特に目立つ色彩，斑紋，形状によって，捕食されるのを避けると考えられるもの。たとえばアゲハチョウ幼虫の眼状紋はその例であるが，この幼虫が同時に悪臭のある角を突き出すことも考えると，警告色とも考えられる。しかし一般に威嚇色では，単に目立つことのほか，少なくとも人間の目で見て奇怪・異様な感じを伴うものが多い。アケビコノハのように後翅のみに鮮やかな斑紋をもつガが急に飛び立つときにも，威嚇的効果が生じることは考えられる。捕食する側の動物が実際に驚かされているかどうかは容易に判別しがたいが，鳥に対する昆虫の翅の目玉模様では実験によって威嚇効果のあることが確かめられている。

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