A central goal of evolutionary biology over the past few decades has been to understand the origin and maintenance of trait polymorphisms. In this seminar I explore the evolution of diverse coloration in the aposematic wood tiger moth, a species with widespread and unexpected polymorphism across its global range. I present a couple lines of research spanning large-scale frequency and mark-recapture experiments in the field, mate choice lab trials, and a spatial model to highlight that mechanisms of diversity are rarely simple. Instead multiple factors work in concert to maintain polymorphisms in nature. I conclude by embracing how understanding the importance of diversity and complexity in nature can help us embrace them in academia as well.