sinobug: Chalcosiine Day-flying Moth Caterpillar (Eterusia or Soritia sp., Chalcosiinae, Zygaenidae)
sinobug: Chalcosiine Day-flying Moth Caterpillar (Eterusia or Soritia sp., Chalcosiinae, Zygaenidae) The Chalcosiine moths and their caterpillars adopt a number of mechanisms as defenses against potential predators. One of these is the synthesis of cyanide as a taste deterrent and direct irritant. The caterpillars are capable of producing the cyanide independently of their foodplant (the usual mechanism of incorporating toxins) and this effect persists into the adult moth stages. So in these images, in response to my presence and contact with the foodplant, this caterpillar as expressed a halo of cyanide droplets from its tubercles. by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr. Pu’er, Yunnan, China See more Chinese caterpillars on my Flickr site HERE….. -- source link