Moths of
the Amazon and Andes
Jade Scorpion moth
Incarcha argentilinea
DRUCE, 1910
Superfamily -
PYRALOIDEA
Family - PYRALIDAE
subfamily -
EPIPASCHIINAE
Tribe -
Incarcha argentilinea, Satipo, Peru
Introduction
The
multitude of bizarre postures adopted by neotropical moths never fails to amaze
me, and this species is surely amongst the weirdest. When it first
settles the moth holds its abdomen straight, but after 3 or 4 minutes it very
gradually curves it into the scorpion-like posture depicted above. The feathery
antennae meanwhile are retracted and laid flat along the moth's back, and the
huge labial palpi are swept back over the head. A moth with attitude !
The Pyraloidea is estimated to contain
over
30000 species, although currently only 16000 have been scientifically described.
They are a very diverse group which includes Clothes moths ( Tineodidae ),
Plume moths
( Pterophoridae ),
Many-plumed moth (
Alucitidae ),
Picture-wing
moths ( Thyrididae ),
and China-mark, Pyralid
and Grass moths ( Crambidae / Pyralidae ).
The genus
Incarcha contains just a single species
argentilinea, which is found in Ecuador and Peru.
Habitats
This species was attracted to a mercury vapour lamp, in a forest glade, beside a
stream in the eastern Andes of Peru.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
To be completed.
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