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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Erebidae » Tiger and Lichen Moths (Arctiinae) » Tiger Moths (Arctiini) » Euchromiina » Cosmosoma » Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth - Hodges#8280 (Cosmosoma myrodora)

Species Cosmosoma myrodora - Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth - Hodges#8280

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Any Ideas? - Cosmosoma myrodora Some kind of Dipteran? - Cosmosoma myrodora Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth - Charleston, South Carolina - Cosmosoma myrodora Cocoon & Pupa of Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth - Cosmosoma myrodora Mystery insect on stevia plant - Cosmosoma myrodora Cosmosoma myrodora? - Cosmosoma myrodora Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth - Cosmosoma myrodora Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth (Cosmosoma myrodora) - Cosmosoma myrodora
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Erebidae
Subfamily Arctiinae (Tiger and Lichen Moths)
Tribe Arctiini (Tiger Moths)
Subtribe Euchromiina
Genus Cosmosoma
Species myrodora (Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth - Hodges#8280)
Hodges Number
8280
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cosmosoma myrodora (Dyar, 1907)
Numbers
Two Cosmosoma species are found in America north of Mexico.(1)
Size
Wingspan about 34 mm. (original description)
Identification
archive.org/stream - original description in the Journal of the New York Entomological Society (1893).
Range
Southeastern states, primarily in Florida but also (mostly near the coast) from South Carolina to Texas.
Habitat
Coastal plains.
Season
March to December, most records Sept to Nov. (Brou 2003)
Food
Larvae feed on Climbing Hempweed, Mikania scandens, a twining vine in the daisy family (Asteraceae). * USDA plant profile

Adult males extract toxic chemicals from Dogfennel Eupatorium (Eupatorium capillifolium). * USDA plant profile
Life Cycle
1.larva 2.pupae 3.adult
Remarks
These moths display warning coloration, yet the caterpillars host on non-toxic Climbing Hempweed, Mikania scandens, (family Asteraceae), a weedy vine at field margins and roadsides that can completely obscure bushes and small trees. The adult male moth extracts toxins known as "pyrrolizidine alkaloids" from Dogfennel Eupatorium (Eupatorium capillifolium) and showers these toxins over the female prior to mating. This is the only insect known to transfer a chemical defense in this way.
Print References
Lafontaine J. D., and B. C. Schmidt 2010. Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America North of Mexico. p. 22.(1)
Brou, Jr., V.A. 2003. Cosmosoma myrodora Dyar in Louisiana. South. Lepid. News 25: 46. Full PDF
Conner, W.E , R. Boada, F.C. Schroeder., A. Gonzàlez, J. Meinwald, & T. Eisner. 2000. Chemical defense: bestowal of a nuptial alkaloidal garment by a male moth upon its mate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 97(26):14406-14411.
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, living and pinned adults.
NABA South Texas Chapter - photos of live adults.
Butterflies and Moths of North America
Moth Photographers Group - photo of living Cosmosoma myrodora and related species.
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - collection map and photos of pinned adults.
A gift of poison: moths and safe sex - article on Wake Forest University website.
Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth (Cosmosoma myrodora) - Texas Entomology - Mike Quinn
Works Cited
1.Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico.
Donald J. Lafontaine, B. Christian Schmidt. 2010. ZooKeys 40: 1–239 .
Contributed by Alan Chin Lee on 30 August, 2004 - 9:38pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Steve Nanz, anitagould, Mike Quinn, Maury Heiman, Robert Lord Zimlich, marcie oconnor
Last updated 29 March, 2021 - 5:52am

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