Check out this stunning butterfly, dressed in black, I heard about today:
Beautiful right?
But this little fella has a secret...more of a secret identity that is!
It's actually a moth in disguise!
Scientifically described as Epicopeia hainesii, it's commonly known as mock swallowtail moth due to mimicking swallowtail butterflies.
Of course it's all about survival. Swallowtail butterflies typically taste terrible for predators so this moth pretends to be one to increase its chances for survival.
https://youtube.com/shorts/sol3QXgLzdg?si=v957hTNLK86q1BuN
Individuals have a wingspan of 5-6 cm and its wings are black.
The species is native in East Asia, specifically in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan and like most moths it feeds on nectar from flowers.
The species has two generations a year, one in spring and another in mid-summer. And unlike most moths, individuals tend to be active during the day. Which makes sense considering how they mimic butterflies.
Anyways, this is the quick rundown of the species. There's a bit more info online if you do a quick search. As always, the point of this post is to introduce you to something bizarre and interesting, not to provide yet another boring wiki article 😂
Hope you enjoyed discovering yet another strange animal with me. See you soon with more :D
Here's one last related video for good bye:
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
