#metalmarks

[birdmitosis]

@minotaur-asterion

Godman's Sarota Metalmark (Sarota myrtea), family Riodinidae, Costa Rica

photograph by José Alberto Cubero Guevara

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Brenthia Moths: these moths can mimic the appearance and mannerisms of a jumping spider so convincingly that actual jumping spiders will sometimes attempt to court them

The markings, posture, and movements of a Brenthia moth (genus Brenthia, also known as a metalmark moth) all contribute to its disguise; the moths move around in short, jerky motions that mimic the movements of a jumping spider, and their hindwings are covered in black-and-white bands that strongly resemble the tucked-in legs of a salticiid spider, especially when the moth displays its unique wing position. The disguise serves as a defensive strategy, enabling the moth to avoid being preyed upon by actual jumping spiders.

In some cases, that disguise may work a little too well, as jumping spiders may actually mistake the moth for a potential mate and then attempt to engage it in a courtship/mating dance (which must be a pretty awkward and bizarre experience for the moth, tbh).

The resemblance between a Brenthia moth and a jumping spider may not seem terribly convincing to us, as human beings, but as this article explains:

When discussing animals mimicking their predator, it is important to remember that we humans are not the target audience. This means that the imitator may not look too convincing in its mimicry to us, but still manages to trigger a desired response from said predator.

Jumping spiders have also been known to respond to Brenthia moths by exhibiting a territorial display, which is yet another behavior that the spiders generally reserve for other spiders.

This study expands on the adaptive benefits of the moth's disguise:

In controlled trials, Brenthia had higher survival rates than other similarly sized moths in the presence of jumping spiders and jumping spiders responded to Brenthia with territorial displays, indicating that Brenthia were sometimes mistaken for jumping spiders, and not recognized as prey.

The illustration below shows the basic/general resemblance between a Brenthia moth and a jumping spider:

Sources & More Info:

New Scientist: Moth's Disguise is so Good, Spiders Love it Instead of Eating it

Animal Behaviour: Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

Science: This Moth Could Pass for a Spider

PLOS ONE Journal: Metalmark Moths Mimic their Jumping Spider Predators

Gil Wizen: Jumping Spider Mimicry in Brenthia Moths

Moths of North Carolina: Brenthia pavonacella

[onenicebugperday]

Maylay red harlequin butterfly, Paralaxita damajanti, Riodinidae

Photographed in Malaysia by Nicky Bay // Website // Facebook

Shared with permission; do not remove credit or re-post!

[mochaccino-river]

@pencil-merchant fluffy!!

this little butterfly is Sarota acantus, a fingernail-sized work of art found in Central and South America. you can tell this one is a female since she’s walking on all six legs—male metalmarks have a greatly reduced first pair!

[snototter]

A blue metalmark butterfly (Lasaia sula) in Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

by Robin Gwen Agarwal

[celestial-games]

Metalmarks have gotta be the most underrated family of butterflies. They are by far the least diverse family in Europe, and Asia, and Africa, and Oceania, and the United States, but then once you go into Mexico and Central America and South America the diversity explodes and there are hundreds of weird and unusual colorful species. The way they hold their wings fully outstretched just feels so confident compared to many other butterflies. Here is an assemblage of common species from the USA and Mexico :]

Species pictured: Nais metalmark, Mormon metalmark, fatal metalmark, blue metalmark, bumblebee metalmark, banner metalmark, white-rayed metalmark, red-spotted pixie, white-tipped metalmark, and the species with proportions that made it impossible to fit into a neat collage, the aptly named (and beautiful) long-tailed metalmark (go look up irl pictures of this species I promise you won't be disappointed)

Support my work on patreon

[mothpawbs]

ughhh i've been working on this for weeks and i'm so glad to be done with it lmao. anyways these are the designs for all of my oc queens!

had to do a way bigger watermark than usual because my wof art's getting reposted to pinterest and instagram without permission or credit 👀

[rattyexplores]

The strange martian moth, surprisingly frequent in the Wet Tropics.

14/01/24 - Saptha libanota

QLD:WET

[fatchance]

Metalmark butterflies at Sonoita Creek. These are possibly Palmer's metalmarks (Apodemia palmeri), though what I don't know about the Lepidoptera is a lot. If anyone can confirm or deny, I'll be grateful. What I am sure of is the plant they are visiting – mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia). Not only is it a magnet for pollinators, it has a really pleasing and memorable name.

[the-ancient-dragons]

Closeups of the art I used in the first post! These are characters from my previous and current series, from left to right:

The Five Dragons Lightningtail (top) and Thunderclap (bottom), Quickclaws (top) and Rainwind (bottom), Brisktail

Alate Atta's Ascension Eight and Ghost, Hawker and Demi (short for Demoiselle), Taproot, Metalmark

I think up next I will be focusing heavily on anatomy. I have some old stuff in the backlog I can slowly post and I will work in full-body experiments soon!

[herpsandbirds]

Green Mantle (Caria mantinea lampeto), family Riodinidae, Colombia

photograph by Jorge Eduardo Bernal Quintero

[whereshadowsthrive]

Commissioned piece of a custom SSC Metalmark and its pilot. Anyway, comm me to draw your Lancer mechs, DMs are open, tyty

[crevicedwelling]

this little butterfly is Sarota acantus, a fingernail-sized work of art found in Central and South America. you can tell this one is a female since she’s walking on all six legs—male metalmarks have a greatly reduced first pair!

[lancersafetysigns]

[szkin-art]

[evilsituation]

lancer ocs (both she/her)

+ Volodya edit (I gave up on polars)