Species: Caligo eurilochus
Location: San Francisco, 766 Valencia St.

Nature is sneaky. We don't think that's brought up nearly enough when discussing the natural world. Everything from color-shifting octopuses to praying mantises that look just like dead leaves and rabbits that change from brown to white with the seasons. Nature has a ton of tricks up its sleeve, which makes sense given the millions of years of evolution that shaped it.

Speaking of nature and its sleight-of-hand foolery, the Giant Forest Owl Butterfly is definitely one of our favorite tricksters, and it's pretty easy to see why. Not only is it a massive butterfly, it's also doing everything it can to tell predators, "No, really. I'm an owl. You don't want any of this smoke." By piggybacking on an owl's reputation as an incredibly skilled hunter feared by just about everything smaller than it, this butterfly survives on smoke and mirrors. Which suits it just fine considering that almost everything looking to make lunch out of it is probably terrified of the hooting stealth bomber of the bird world. If you've ever dissected an owl pellet, you know why.

It's not all bird cosplay, either. These butterflies are part of the morpho family, and while they may not have the eye-watering blue of Morpho didius or the shimmering iridescence of the Pearl Morpho, they do have a subtle blue glow hidden on the underside of their wings. In its own way, it's just as beautiful. The giant owl eyes on one side are already enough to steal the show, so the dreamy blue scales on the other are just a bonus.

If you want to learn more about fooling predators with clever disguises, or just how a resourceful butterfly makes its way in the world, join us for the workshop. You probably won't walk away with the ability to shapeshift into a bear, but you definitely will walk away with a pretty cool butterfly for your collection.

About the class:

In this hands-on, two-hour class, you will learn the full process of butterfly pinning, from hydration to pinning and preservation. Our expert instructor will guide you step by step, and you will use a Paxton Gate spreading kit to transform your moth into a preserved specimen you will get to take home and show off.

Inside each kit, you will receive:

• 1 Box of entomology pins
• 1 Anchor pin
• 4 Strips vellum paper
• Forceps
• Pinning board
  
• Instruction pamphlet

Important Details:

Classes will be held at 766 Valencia St., San Francisco.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours before the class to receive store credit, redeemable for merchandise or future classes.
Pre-registration is required, as materials must be prepared for each student and space is very limited. Please arrive promptly at the start time. Students are encouraged to bring lunch or snacks.