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| name = Dogbane tiger moth
| name = Dogbane tiger moth
| image = Cycnia teneraPCCP20030807-2447B.jpg
| image = Cycnia teneraPCCP20030807-2447B.jpg
| inage_width = 204px
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
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| species = '''''C. tenera'''''
| species = '''''C. tenera'''''
| binomial = ''Cycnia tenera''
| binomial = ''Cycnia tenera''
| binomial_authority = Hubner, 1818
| binomial_authority = [[Jacob Hübner|Hübner]], 1818
}}
}}


'''''Cycnia tenera''''', the '''dogbane tiger moth''' or '''delicate cycnia''', is a [[moth]] in the family [[Arctiidae]]. It occurs throughout North America, from southern [[British Columbia]] to Nova Scotia southwards to Arizona and Florida. Range map: [http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3799].
'''''Cycnia tenera''''', the '''dogbane tiger moth''' or '''delicate cycnia''', is a [[moth]] in the family [[Arctiidae]]. It occurs throughout North America, from southern [[British Columbia]] to Nova Scotia southwards to Arizona and Florida.


==Ecology==
__TOC__
⚫
It is a common feeder on ''[[Apocynum cannabinum]]'' (dogbane, Indian hemp) which produces a milky latex containing [[cardenolide]]s, toxic [[cardiac glycoside]] that defend against herbivores.<ref name="Cohen">{{cite journal |author=James A. Cohen & Lincoln P. Brower |year=1983 |title=Cardenolide sequestration by the dogbane tiger moth |journal=[[Journal of Chemical Ecology]] |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=521–531 |doi=10.1007/BF00990224}}</ref> It also feeds on [[milkweed]] species, ''Asclepias'', at least in parts of its range, but is most commonly reported from [[dogbane]]. Its interactions with [[bat]]s have been much studied, but are an area of dispute regarding whether the clicks emitted by adult moths are disruptive of bat [[Animal echolocation|echolocation]], or merely [[aposematic]] warning signals. The two functions are not mutually exclusive, however, so it may not be possible to resolve the issue.


⚫
It is a common feeder on ''[[Apocynum cannabinum]]'' (dogbane, Indian hemp) which produces a milky latex containing [[cardenolide]]s, toxic [[cardiac glycoside]] that defend against herbivores (Cohen and Brower, 1983). It also feeds on [[milkweed]] species, ''Asclepias'', at least in parts of its range, but is most commonly reported from [[dogbane]]. Its interactions with [[bat]]s have been much studied, but are an area of dispute regarding whether the clicks emitted by adult moths are disruptive of bat [[Animal echolocation|echolocation]], or merely [[aposematic]] warning signals. The two functions are not mutually exclusive, however, so it may not be possible to resolve the issue.

⚫
[[Image:Cycnia.JPG|thumb|left|Dogbane tiger moth larva]]
==Life cycle==
==Life cycle==
⚫
[[Image:Cycnia.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Dogbane tiger moth larva]]
This moth has several generations per year through much of its range, so [[caterpillar]]s may be found from June to November (Wagner 2005).
This moth has several generations per year through much of its range, so [[caterpillar]]s may be found from June to November.<ref>{{cite book |author=David L. Wagner |year=2005 |title=Caterpillars of Eastern North America: a Guide to Identification and Natural History |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=978-0-691-12144-4}}</ref>

⚫
Eggs are laid in clutches of 50–100. Larvae are reported to feed in aggregations of five to seven, at least in the early [[instar]]s.<ref name="Cohen"/> Caterpillars are covered all over in soft grey to whitish hairs. Larvae feed at night.
⚫
[[Image:CycniaCocoon.JPG|thumb|right|Dogbane tiger moth cocoon]]


===Larvae===
⚫
Eggs are laid in clutches of 50-100. Larvae are reported to feed in aggregations of five to seven, at least in the early [[instar]]s (Cohen and Brower, 1983). Caterpillars are covered all over in soft grey to whitish hairs. Larvae feed at night.
⚫
[[Image:CycniaCocoon.JPG|thumb|right|192px|Dogbane tiger moth cocoon]]
===Pupae===
The [[Pupa#Cocoon|cocoon]] is grayish and covered in hairs from the caterpillar's body.
The [[Pupa#Cocoon|cocoon]] is grayish and covered in hairs from the caterpillar's body.


⚫
Adults have white wings with a buttery yellow margin along the front of the forewing; the legs are black. The underside of the forewing may have a dusting of black. The body is yellow with a row of black spots. The wingspan is {{convert|30|-|40|mm}}.
===Adults===
⚫
Wings are white with a buttery yellow margin along the front of the forewing; the legs are black. The underside of the forewing may have a dusting of black. The body is yellow with a row of black spots. The wingspan is 30-40 mm.


==Ultrasound calls==
==Ultrasound calls==
Bats refuse to eat either muted or intact moths of ''C. tenera'' (Ratcliffe and Fullard, 2005). Hawking bats, that is, those seeking moths in flight, attacked intact, clicking ''C. tenera'' less frequently than surgically muted (with tymbal organs destroyed) moths in experiments. Intact moths emitted calls when the hunting bats switched from search phase calls to approach phase calls (Fullard et al., 1994). In gleaning attacks, when bats attack moths perched on surfaces, bats use a different frequency of sound that these moths cannot hear (Fullard 1979), and the moths do not respond until actually handled by bats. Then clicking moths were dropped more frequently than mute moths.
Bats refuse to eat either muted or intact moths of ''C.&nbsp;tenera''.<ref name="Ratcliffe">{{cite journal |author=John M. Ratcliffe & James H. Fullard |year=2005 |title=The adaptive function of tiger moth clicks against echolocating bats: an experimental and synthetic approach |journal=[[Journal of Experimental Biology]] |volume=208 |issue=24 |pages=4689–4698 |pmid=16326950 |doi=10.1242/​jeb.01927 }}</ref> Hawking bats, that is, those seeking moths in flight, attacked intact, clicking ''C.&nbsp;tenera'' less frequently than surgically muted (with tymbal organs destroyed) moths in experiments. Intact moths emitted calls when the hunting bats switched from search phase calls to approach phase calls.<ref>{{cite journal |author=James H. Fullard, James A. Simmons & Prestor A. Saillant |year=1994 |title=Jamming bat echolocation: the dogbane tiger moth times its clicks to the terminal attack calls of the big brown bat ''Eptesicus fuscus'' |journal=[[Journal of Experimental Biology]] |volume=194 |pages=285–298 |pmid=7964403 |url=http://jeb.biologists.org/content/194/1/285.full.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref> In gleaning attacks, when bats attack moths perched on surfaces, bats use a different frequency of sound that these moths cannot hear,<ref>{{cite journal |author=James H. Fullard |year=1979 |title=Behavioral analyses of auditory sensitivity in ''Cycnia tenera'' (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) |journal=[[Journal of Comparative Physiology]] |volume=129 |issue=1 |pages=79–83 |doi=10.1007/BF00679914}}</ref> and the moths do not respond until actually handled by bats. Then clicking moths were dropped more frequently than mute moths.


In a set of experiments using bats that had never been exposed to moths before, Hristov and Conner (2005) found the clicking signals helped the bats to learn which moths are distasteful, and so to avoid them. They did not rule out a jamming function for the calls, however, and Ratcliffe and Fullard noted 20% of these native bats aborted attacks on the moth.
In a set of experiments using bats that had never been exposed to moths before, Hristov and Conner found the clicking signals helped the bats to learn which moths are distasteful, and so to avoid them.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Nickolay I. Hristov & William E. Conner |year=2005 |title=Sound strategy: acoustic aposematism in the bat–tiger moth arms race |journal=[[Naturwissenschaften]] |volume=92 |issue=4 |pages=164–169 |pmid=15772807 |doi=10.1007/s00114-005-0611-7}}</ref> They did not rule out a jamming function for the calls, however, and Ratcliffe and Fullard noted 20% of these native bats aborted attacks on the moth.<ref name="Ratcliffe"/>


The calls are additionally used by male moths to signal to female moths (Conner 1987). Like many [[Arctiinae]], ''C. tenera'' flies all day and night, though preferentially some time after dusk. Nonetheless, it is certainly not a well-loved prey item of [[Diurnality|diurnal]] predators such as [[insectivorous]] [[bird]]s, either.{{Verify source|date=July 2007}} Its sense of hearing, on the other hand, is only moderately well-developed. Thus, the calls of the delicate cycnia have more of a defensive than a social function, and the aposematic role is likely to be significant.(Fullard & Napoleone 2001).
The calls are additionally used by male moths to signal to female moths.<ref>{{cite journal |author=W. E. Conner |year=1987 |title=Ultrasound: its role in the courtship of the arctiid moth, ''Cycnia tenera'' |journal=[[Experientia]] |volume=43 |issue=9 |pages=1029–1031 |doi=10.1007/BF01952230}}</ref> Like many [[Arctiinae]], ''C.&nbsp;tenera'' flies all day and night, though preferentially some time after dusk. Nonetheless, it is certainly not a well-loved prey item of [[Diurnality|diurnal]] predators such as [[insectivorous]] [[bird]]s, either.{{Verify source|date=July 2007}} Its sense of hearing, on the other hand, is only moderately well-developed. Thus, the calls of ''Cycnia tenera'' have more of a defensive than a social function, and the aposematic role is likely to be significant.<ref>{{cite journal |author=James H. Fullard & Nadia Napoleone |year=2001 |title=Diel flight periodicity and the evolution of auditory defences in the Macrolepidoptera |journal=[[Animal Behaviour (journal)|Animal Behaviour]] |volume=62 |issue=2 |pages=349–368 |doi=10.1006/anbe.2001.1753 |url=http://www.erin.utoronto.ca/~w3full/reprints/FullNapolDielAB.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|32em}}
*{{aut|Cohen, J.A. & Brower, L.P.}} (1983). Cardenolide sequestration by the dogbane tiger moth. ''Journal of Chemical Ecology'' '''9''': 521-531.


==Further reading==
*{{aut|Conner W.E.}} (1987) Ultrasound: its role in the courtship of the arctiid moth, ''Cycnia tenera''. ''Experientia'' '''43''': 1029–1031.
{{refbegin}}

*{{aut|Fullard, James H.}} (1979) Behavioral analyses of auditory sensitivity in ''Cycnia tenera'' (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). ''Journal of Comparative Physiology'' '''129''': 79-83.
*{{cite journal |author=James H. Fullard |year=1984 |title=Listening for bats: pulse repetition rate as a cue for a defensive behavior in ''Cycnia tenera'' Hübner (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) |journal=[[Journal of Comparative Physiology A]] |volume=154 |issue=2 |pages=249–252 |doi=10.1007/BF00604990}}
*{{cite book |author=Malcolm J. Scoble |year=1995 |title=The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity |edition=2nd |publisher=[[Natural History Museum]] and [[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-854952-9}}

*{{cite journal |author=Dean A. Waters |year=2003 |title=Bats and moths: what is there left to learn? |journal=[[Physiological Entomology]] |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=237–250 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-3032.2003.00355.x}}
*{{aut|Fullard, James H.}} (1984) Listening for bats: pulse repetition rate as a cue for a defensive behavior in ''Cycnia tenera'' Hübner (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). ''Journal of Comparative Physiology'' A '''154''': 249-252.
⚫
*{{cite journal |author=Susan J. Weller, Nancy L. Jacobson & William E. Connor |year=1999 |title=The evolution of chemical defenses and mating systems in tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) |journal=[[Biological Journal of the Linnean Society]] |volume=68 |issue=4 |pages=557–578 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.1999.tb01188.x}}

{{refend}}
*{{aut|Fullard, James H. & Napoleone, Nadia }}(2001): Diel flight periodicity and the evolution of auditory defences in the Macrolepidoptera. ''Animal Behaviour'' '''62'''(2): 349–368. <small>{{doi|10.1006/anbe.2001.1753}}</small> [http://www.erin.utoronto.ca/~w3full/reprints/FullNapolDielAB.pdf PDF fulltext]

*{{aut|Fullard, James H.; JA Simmons & PA Saillant}} (1994) Jamming bat echolocation: the dogbane tiger moth times its clicks to the terminal attack calls of the big brown bat ''Eptesicus fuscus.'' ''Journal of Experimental Biology'' '''194''': 285-298.

*{{aut|Hristov, N.I., & Conner, W.E.}} (2005). Sound strategy: acoustic aposematism in the bat-moth arms race. ''Naturwissenschaften'' '''92''': 164-169.

*{{aut|Scoble, M.J.}} (1995) ''The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity''. Second ed. Oxford University Press.

*{{aut|Wagner, D.L.}} (2005) ''Caterpillars of Eastern North America''. Princeton University Press.

*{{aut|Waters, D.A.}} (2003) Bats and moths: what is there left to learn? ''Physiological Entomology'' '''28''': 237-250.

⚫
*{{aut|Weller, S.J.; Jacobson, N.L. & Connor, W.E.}} (1999) The evolution of chemical defenses and mating systems in tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). ''[[Biological Journal of the Linnean Society|Biol. J. Linn. Soc.]]'' '''68''' 557-578.


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
{{Commons category}}
* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/3063 Adult images]
* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/3063 Adult images]
* [http://www.marylandmoths.com/Html/Arctiidae/Arctiinae/Phaegopterini/Cycnia_tenera.html] Adults
* [http://www.marylandmoths.com/Html/Arctiidae/Arctiinae/Phaegopterini/Cycnia_tenera.html Adults]

⚫
{{Commons|Cycnia tenera}}


[[Category:Phaegopterini]]
[[Category:Phaegopterini]]
[[Category:Butterflies and moths of North America]]
[[Category:Animals described in 1818]]


[[fr:Cycnia tenera]]
[[fr:Cycnia tenera]]

Revision as of 09:20, 25 February 2012

Dogbane tiger moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Arctiidae
Genus:
Cycnia
Species:
C. tenera
Binomial name
Cycnia tenera
Hübner, 1818

Cycnia tenera, the dogbane tiger moth or delicate cycnia, is a moth in the family Arctiidae. It occurs throughout North America, from southern British Columbia to Nova Scotia southwards to Arizona and Florida.

Ecology

It is a common feeder on Apocynum cannabinum (dogbane, Indian hemp) which produces a milky latex containing cardenolides, toxic cardiac glycoside that defend against herbivores.[1] It also feeds on milkweed species, Asclepias, at least in parts of its range, but is most commonly reported from dogbane. Its interactions with bats have been much studied, but are an area of dispute regarding whether the clicks emitted by adult moths are disruptive of bat echolocation, or merely aposematic warning signals. The two functions are not mutually exclusive, however, so it may not be possible to resolve the issue.

Life cycle

Dogbane tiger moth larva

This moth has several generations per year through much of its range, so caterpillars may be found from June to November.[2]

Eggs are laid in clutches of 50–100. Larvae are reported to feed in aggregations of five to seven, at least in the early instars.[1] Caterpillars are covered all over in soft grey to whitish hairs. Larvae feed at night.

Dogbane tiger moth cocoon

The cocoon is grayish and covered in hairs from the caterpillar's body.

Adults have white wings with a buttery yellow margin along the front of the forewing; the legs are black. The underside of the forewing may have a dusting of black. The body is yellow with a row of black spots. The wingspan is 30–40 millimetres (1.2–1.6 in).

Ultrasound calls

Bats refuse to eat either muted or intact moths of C. tenera.[3] Hawking bats, that is, those seeking moths in flight, attacked intact, clicking C. tenera less frequently than surgically muted (with tymbal organs destroyed) moths in experiments. Intact moths emitted calls when the hunting bats switched from search phase calls to approach phase calls.[4] In gleaning attacks, when bats attack moths perched on surfaces, bats use a different frequency of sound that these moths cannot hear,[5] and the moths do not respond until actually handled by bats. Then clicking moths were dropped more frequently than mute moths.

In a set of experiments using bats that had never been exposed to moths before, Hristov and Conner found the clicking signals helped the bats to learn which moths are distasteful, and so to avoid them.[6] They did not rule out a jamming function for the calls, however, and Ratcliffe and Fullard noted 20% of these native bats aborted attacks on the moth.[3]

The calls are additionally used by male moths to signal to female moths.[7] Like many Arctiinae, C. tenera flies all day and night, though preferentially some time after dusk. Nonetheless, it is certainly not a well-loved prey item of diurnal predators such as insectivorous birds, either.[verification needed] Its sense of hearing, on the other hand, is only moderately well-developed. Thus, the calls of Cycnia tenera have more of a defensive than a social function, and the aposematic role is likely to be significant.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b James A. Cohen & Lincoln P. Brower (1983). "Cardenolide sequestration by the dogbane tiger moth". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 9 (4): 521–531. doi:10.1007/BF00990224.
  2. ^ David L. Wagner (2005). Caterpillars of Eastern North America: a Guide to Identification and Natural History. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-12144-4.
  3. ^ a b John M. Ratcliffe & James H. Fullard (2005). "The adaptive function of tiger moth clicks against echolocating bats: an experimental and synthetic approach". Journal of Experimental Biology. 208 (24): 4689–4698. doi:10.1242/​jeb.01927. PMID 16326950. {{cite journal}}: zero width space character in |doi= at position 9 (help)
  4. ^ James H. Fullard, James A. Simmons & Prestor A. Saillant (1994). "Jamming bat echolocation: the dogbane tiger moth times its clicks to the terminal attack calls of the big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus" (PDF). Journal of Experimental Biology. 194: 285–298. PMID 7964403.
  5. ^ James H. Fullard (1979). "Behavioral analyses of auditory sensitivity in Cycnia tenera (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)". Journal of Comparative Physiology. 129 (1): 79–83. doi:10.1007/BF00679914.
  6. ^ Nickolay I. Hristov & William E. Conner (2005). "Sound strategy: acoustic aposematism in the bat–tiger moth arms race". Naturwissenschaften. 92 (4): 164–169. doi:10.1007/s00114-005-0611-7. PMID 15772807.
  7. ^ W. E. Conner (1987). "Ultrasound: its role in the courtship of the arctiid moth, Cycnia tenera". Experientia. 43 (9): 1029–1031. doi:10.1007/BF01952230.
  8. ^ James H. Fullard & Nadia Napoleone (2001). "Diel flight periodicity and the evolution of auditory defences in the Macrolepidoptera" (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 62 (2): 349–368. doi:10.1006/anbe.2001.1753.

Further reading

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