A video from Indonesia is making the rounds on social media, and it shows a bizarre sight—a moth with long, pulsing tentacles coming out of his backside.
Speculations ran wild—is the moth infected by a parasite that is emerging? Are we looking at some sort of huge, weird penis? Maybe the video is simply CGI. As it turns out, none of those are correct. This moth, called Creatonotos gangis, is inflating his scent glands.
The glands are called “coremata,” or “scent glands.”
For #macromonday here are two monarch butterflies, in the process of creating more monarch butterflies. Taken 7/10/21. #nature #wildlife #macrophotography #wildlifephotography #butterflies #lepidoptera #monarchbutterfly #canon #canon5dmarkiv #insect #invertebrate #nys #upstateny #nywildlife #nativepollinators https://www.instagram.com/p/CTODnVzrfyo/?utm_medium=tumblr
Though some might see two flies eating bird droppings, this is in fact a very creatively colored moth, known as Macrocilix maia! Why the fecal pattern?
It may help to deter predators. There are even reports of the moth emitting an unpleasant smell to accompany its camouflage. This species can be found widely across Asia from India, to China, to Malaysia.
Part 2 of my @designercon exclusives at booth 1013. . The next two in the Lepidoptera series: Lepidoptera 8 “Mycelium” and Lepidoptera 9: “Viper” will be first available at the convention this coming Friday. The archival giclée prints measure 10”x8” on cold press natural cotton rag, expertly printed by @davecorreia, who has done all of my Lepidoptera prints to date (thank you Dave). The prints are a limited edition of 200, each print signed and numbered. . These will be available as a set of one of each print, for $90. There will be a strict limit of two sets MAX per person for those purchasing on behalf of someone else. Full details on purchase limits for the convention in upcoming newsletter. There will be 150 sets available at Dcon, with the remainders available in a post-convention online drop. . Stay tuned for the more exclusives announced later today! Thank you! . #designercon #dcon #lepidoptera #artprint #ncwinters #neverstop https://www.instagram.com/p/CWEEAbyPBM2/?utm_medium=tumblr
Found in the southern US and across the neotropics, this species looks very similar to co-occurring sphinx moths in the genus Manduca, but it’s more closely related to several old world species including the famous death’s head moths (Acherontia) than it is to any other sphingid from the Americas. Its caterpillars typically feed on plants in the morning glory family, while the adults nectar on the flowers of those same plants.
moths like this provide an example of a defense strategy called startle coloration- nearly invisible when camouflaged on bark, the moth will flash its bright pink markings if it is found and disturbed, potentially startling a predator long enough for the moth to escape and making it less likely to be found again when it resumes its resting position and ‘disappears’.
Found along the east coast of the United States and inward as far as Oklahoma. Photos show an early instar caterpillar, a later instar caterpillar, and adult moths. Stinging hairs on the caterpillar can result in a very painful skin reaction that often worsens over time until the venom passes from the system.
The past week I’ve been working on this miniature that I made for @scrapbramble as a belated birthday present. It has a secret drawer and it folds closed so it can be put away like a book
Here are some close-ups and process pics for scale
