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Myrmecopsis strigosa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Myrmecopsis strigosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Genus: Myrmecopsis
Species:
M. strigosa
Binomial name
Myrmecopsis strigosa
(H. Druce, 1884)
Synonyms
  • Amycles strigosa H. Druce, 1884
  • Pseudosphex strigosa

Myrmecopsis strigosa is a moth of the subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by Herbert Druce in 1884. It is found in Mexico and Guatemala.[1] The wingspan is about 25 mm.[2]

It is thought to be a Müllerian mimic of the wasp Parachartergus apicalis, with predators paying a high penalty for mistaking M. strigosa for the wasp and there is a small reward from correctly identifying it since M. strigosa is bitter tasting and covered in scales.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Savela, Markku. "Myrmecopsis strigosa (Druce, 1884)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  2. ^ "930455.00 – 8277 – Myrmecopsis strigosa – (Druce, 1884)". North American Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi State University. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  3. ^ Simmons, R.; Weller, S. (2002). "What kind of signals do mimetic tiger moths send? A phylogenetic test of wasp mimicry systems (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae: Euchromiini)". Proceedings: Biological Sciences. 269 (1495): 983–990. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.1970. PMC 1690985. PMID 12028753.