Defensive Regurgitation by a Noctuid Moth Larva (Litoprosopus Futilis)

Defensive Regurgitation by a Noctuid Moth Larva (Litoprosopus Futilis)

Blog Article

Larvae of the noctuid moth Litoprosopus futilis Midi Crate regurgitate when disturbed.The oral effluent proved deterrent to ants on nearcontact, and topically irritating in a scratch test with a cockroach.Larvae regurgitated when attacked by Lenses lycosid spiders and derived some protection from this behavior.

Caterpillars were able to regurgitate even when emerging from the eggs; however, at this stage, they proved vulnerable to attack by chrysopid larvae and ants.