IT WAS 90-SOMETHING DEGREES OUT, however the lichen patterning on one patio stone regarded like snowflakes, and I took a photograph. That morning, I had shot one other image, of an insect I didn’t know. When it obtained so scorching out later, I went inside to key it out and located that nature had served up one other miracle: I’d met my first lichen moth inside hours of taking that “snowflake” lichen picture. I knew straight away who to ask in regards to the moth, a minimum of: Seabrooke Leckie, co-author of the “Peterson Information to Moths of Northeastern North America.” Be taught some wonderful info about these specialised moths–why they paint themselves in flame colours, as an illustration, and the way they’ve turn into knowledgeable “poop flingers” (I child you not!)–and possibly win a duplicate of a favourite guidebook I flip to on a regular basis in summer time.
My new acquaintance (high picture) was Hypoprepia fucosa, the painted lichen moth, certainly one of a bunch of principally bright-colored bugs listed within the information as lichen moths.
First I refreshed my reminiscence a bit on lichen, of which there are three sorts: people who develop on bushes or shrubs (epiphytic varieties); others that develop on the bottom (terrestrial); and ones like these on my terrace—rock-dwelling, or saxicolous lichens. The painted lichen moth doesn’t have a relationship with that lichen on my patio stones, however relatively with the epiphytic varieties, I shortly realized, however I needed to know extra, and dashed off a collection of inquiries to Seabrooke (who with the Northeast moth information collaborator David Beadle is at the moment engaged on a Southeast quantity):
Q. What is that this group of moths’ relationship to lichens, anyhow?
A: One of many fascinating issues about moths as a bunch is that if it in any manner resembles a plant, there’s a moth that eats it. There are various species of moths that eat the leaves and different components of vascular crops, in fact, together with aquatic crops, however there are additionally some that feed on detritus on the forest ground (appropriately referred to as “litter moths”), some that feed on fungi, some that feed on moss, and naturally some that feed on lichen.
More often than not, when a moth species has a plant included in its frequent title, it’s as a result of its caterpillars feed primarily or typically solely on that plant. Within the case of lichen moths, their caterpillars feed on lichen and typically blue-green algae. Sure members of the group will also be cannibalistic on smaller people of their very own species.
Q. Any concept why they’re so colourful? (Doesn’t look like they’re attempting to cover from predators with these outfits on, however I do know it should support survival by some means and isn’t only a trend assertion.)
A: You’ll discover that the lichen moths, these which can be coloured, are principally yellow/orange/pink and black. Sometimes within the insect kingdom this mix of flame-family colours with black is a sign of distastefulness–a visible warning to potential predators to not waste their time.
Such coloration is termed “aposematic.” Normally, this unpalatability is as a result of the insect accommodates chemical substances that it ingested and metabolized as a larva and retained by way of metamorphosis into an grownup.
Maybe the best-known instance of that is the monarch butterfly, which will get alkaloids from milkweed. Some species “piggy-back” on predator recognition of those distasteful species by way of mimicry–as an illustration, the viceroy butterfly seems related sufficient to the monarch to realize that safety.
It’s unclear whether or not the lichen moths are the previous or the latter, though a minimum of one species–the black-and-yellow lichen moth (Lycomorpha pholus)–is a mimic of distasteful net-winged beetles, and members of the very carefully associated and equally aposematic tiger moth group are unpalatable.
Q. OK, I’ve to ask: I’ve examine projectile pooping (my unscientific time period!) by caterpillars. What’s up with that?
A: If you happen to maintain a caterpillar in your hand for lengthy, there’s a very good likelihood it’ll poop on you. However the poop isn’t messy–it’s in compact, dark-green pellets.
Some species of lichen moth, together with our comparatively frequent scarlet-winged and painted lichen moths (Hypoprepia miniata and H. fucosa, respectively), are knowledgeable poop-flingers as caterpillars.
They’ve a specialised “comb” that folds below their physique at their rear finish; when they should fling a pellet, they pressure haemolymph (insect blood) into the final physique phase which causes the spring-loaded comb to come out and eject the pellet–it may be tossed so far as 30 physique lengths away. This habits is believed to be supposed to foil parasitic and predatory wasps and flies that hone in on prey utilizing the volatiles (evaporating chemical substances) within the pellets.
Q. Remind me about why some caterpillars are so furry—what function(s) do the hairs, which will be fairly dense, play?
A: Lichen moths, together with the closely-related tiger moths, and the not-so-closely-related tussock moths, have furry caterpillars (normally, although not at all times, densely so). These hairs are usually urticating–that’s, they irritate mushy membranes (like mouth linings) or delicate pores and skin. It’s one other protection in opposition to predation.
After they’re constructing their cocoons to pupate, the caterpillars will incorporate these hairs into the cocoon’s construction, binding them along with silk. Just a few species of lichen moths construct very elaborate constructions that look much less like a cocoon and extra like a cage. (Some nice examples right here.)
They rigorously bind the hairs collectively in straight strains, forming a free grid that arches above the pupa; the pupa hangs suspended from silken threads within the center, equidistant from the edges, and much sufficient in that parasitoids can’t attain it by way of the cocoon to put eggs. The hairs on the high and backside ends level outward and aren’t certain collectively, which acts as a kind of reverse fish lure–when the grownup moth emerges, it might probably simply push out of the construction, however nothing can get in.
methods to win the sector information to moths
I’VE BOUGHT AN EXTRA COPY of the Peterson’s Northeast moth information to share with a fortunate reader. All you need to do to win is reply the query:
The place are you in your relationship to moths? I do know, I’m being just a little flip–however right here’s what I imply: Is “moth” nonetheless synonymous with “nondescript tan pest within the pantry or sweater drawer, and flying across the porch mild at evening,” or have you ever observed anyone extra distinguished but?
Since I obtained the moth information when it got here out final yr, it has modified the best way I outline the phrase “moth” fully.
Don’t have a moth story, however wish to win the e-book? Simply say “depend me in” or one thing like that, and I’ll. I’ll draw the winner at random after entries shut at midnight Sunday, August 18. Good luck to all.