Generalist eaters, not generally eaten…

These masters of self-defense produce ultrasonic vibrations, canceling out bat echolocation signals – an ‘audio-cloaking device’ which makes them undetectable by bats! Their appearance uses aposematic visual warning signals.

The caterpillars warn off predators with their bristly hairs, which cause discomfort if eaten. Adults are strikingly white, fluffy with black spots like a snowy owl. Despite making them appear cute and cuddly to humans, for predators, this warns of unpalatability.

It’s a good job adults avoid predation – their lifespan is a mere 5-10 days, during which they eat nothing (living off reserves from their larval stage), find a mate, lay eggs, and then die. The males flutter about searching for stationary females emitting pheromones that say “I am here my love…”.

Like humans, the larvae follow a generalist feeding strategy, subsisting on a variety of food plants. This, also like humans, makes them very flexible about where they can live.