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A pair of princely tiger moths (Chrysocale principalis) mating in Michoacán, Mexico

by Gerardo Ochoa

#princely tiger moth #butterflies and moths #chrysocale principalis #chrysocale #erebidae #lepidoptera #insecta #arthropoda #wildlife: mexico #wildlife: north america

Princely Tiger Moth (Chrysocale principalis), family Erebidae, found in Mexico and Central America

photograph by Rio Dekito

#tiger moth #chrysocale #erebidae #moth #lepidoptera #insect #entomology #animals #nature #mexico #central america

Princely Tiger Moths: these strikingly colorful moths can be found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras

The princely tiger moth (Chrysocale principalis) has a unique, almost rainbow-like appearance, with iridescent/metallic scales that produce a broad range of colors across the wings, thorax, and abdomen. These colors can include shades of pink, gold, green, blue, and purple.

This species is particularly colorful, but aposematic coloration in general is a trait that occurs in many different species of tiger moth; the moths often store toxic and/or unpalatable compounds within their own bodies as a way to discourage predators from eating them, and their brightly-colored markings then warn the predators to stay away.

Moths are often viewed as the boring, more plainly-colored version of butterflies, but they are much more diverse, more interesting, and more colorful than people generally realize -- as the princely tiger moth (and many other species) clearly demonstrates.

Sources & More Info:

The Lives of Moths: Predators and Defenses

Texas Entomology: The Princely Tiger Moth

The Macrolepidoptera of the World: Chrysocale principalis

iNaturalist: Chrysocale principalis