Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, Eudaemonia argus, sometimes called the pink silk moth, of the Saturniidae family is a large moth with elongated hindwing tails. Long tails such as these are thought to be a defense mechanism against predators, like bats. They deflect sonar away from their body and towards the tail ends. Moths can survive after losing these ends, though it has been observed that their flight speed can be affected.
Once inhabiting San Francisco, the extinct Xerces blue butterfly was last observed in 1941. Its small periwinkle wings once included many pattern variations across the species. Due to habitat loss, the Xerces blue is noted as one of the first North American butterflies to go extinct by human activity. In 1971, The Xerces Society was founded as an invertebrate conservation effort in light of this loss.
This striking group of moths is known by several names including the generalized Tiger moths, Lichen moths and, appropriately, Red-striped moths. Caterpillars are generally very hairy and feed on moss and lichen (hence the name) and these long hairs (setae) are incorporated in the cocoon at pupation. In some species, this takes the form of a woven basket surrounding the pupa (pictured).
Pu'er, Yunnan, China
Pictured are some representatives of the local Yunnan Cyana genus and a pupal cocoon. Click the images to see identifications……