eduardo34's Favorites

When we think of Mimicry and camouflage in insects, we usually think of color, pattern and texture or in the mimicry of an object, animal or other insect. However, one aspect of mimicry that is often overlooked is that of Posture. This little moth assumes a peculiar J-shaped posture at rest that makes it look like anything but a moth. The front legs are held tightly together and extended forward. The wings are rolled and held downwards along with the 2nd and 3rd pairs of legs, forming the back support of a triangle. The antennae are hidden close to the body and running down along the wings. The abdomen is sharply curved up over the thorax. If this moth had been on foliage, I never would have seen it. About 1 cm in length. Family Crambidae, subfamily Spilomelinae. The larvae are leaf rollers. Found on a rock wall under lights, semi-rural residential area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2,200 meters.

Possible big brown based on head shape but still not too sure. Was brought to me with the umbilical still attached.
Very dehydrated and took hourly feedings at the start, fed a goats milk formula mix, hair started to develop after the first week, and lived for about two weeks. Very little sleep was had for those two weeks.