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Speiredonia

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Speiredonia
Speiredonia spectans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Tribe: Hulodini
Genus: Speiredonia
Hübner, [1823][1]
Synonyms
  • Sericia Guenée, 1852
  • Spiredonia Agassiz, 1847

Speiredonia is a genus of moths in the Erebidae family.

Defensive display

Some of the species, such as Speiredonia spectans, S. cthulhui, S. hogenesi, S. martabanica, S. sandokana, S. alix. S. itynx, S. levis and S. celebensis have a pattern on the wings that while the moth is at rest looks like the 3-dimensional face of a lurking animal with eyes and nostrils. This pattern is more clearly discernible in females[2] and may cause an attacking predator to hesitate or perhaps withdraw.[3]

Speiredonia spectans resting mimicking a head

Species

References

  1. ^ "Home of Ichneumonoidea". taxapad.com. Retrieved 2015-02-09.
  2. ^ An Overview Of The Genus Speiredonia With Description Of Seven New Species
  3. ^ John L. Capinera, Encyclopedia of Entomology, Volume 4, p. 1174