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Cinnabar moth caterpillar

Tyria jacobaeae

Photo by Elsa
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

The cinnabar moth caterpillar starts out a pale yellow, but as it grows it develops the orange and black stripes. The adult cinnabar moth is black with red markings.

Notes:

Cinnabar moth caterpillars use aposematic warning colouration, deterring predators through the use strong colouration that signals toxicity. This is similar to the aposematic colouration of nudibranchs.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
Elsa
Haha ditto on reef-fish. Know the feeling ;)
Doryreed
No problem. Happy to pass on the info. I'm a bit of an insect geek I'm afraid. Not great at parties but it comes in handy on here. :)
Elsa
Cool, will update info! Thanks :) (again!)
Doryreed
The colouration of these is defense in its own right. They are toxic due to their diet as caterpillars. They don't need to mimic wasps as they are just as nasty. It is called aposematism. Advertising your defenses instead of camouflage.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Photographed
PublishedJune 16, 2011

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