Tropes

ScienceDaily_2013 03642.txt

#Green flame moths: Scientists discover two new Limacodidae species from China and Taiwanthe representatives of the Limacodidae moth family are widely known as slug moths due to the resemblance of their stunningly colored caterpillars to slug species. Within this popular family the Parasa undulata group is perhaps one of the most intriguing due to the beautiful green wing pattern typical for those species. In a recent revision published in the open access journal Zookeys scientists describe two new species from the group and provide a first record of a conifer-feeding caterpillar. The two new species Parasa viridiflamma and Parasa minwangi described from China and Taiwan both have the distinguishable green pattern typical for the group. They have a wingspan of averagely around 2--2. 5 cm and can be seen mainly in mid-elevations of mountains. The resemblance of the wing pattern of P. viridiflamma to mystical green flames has inspired also its name derived from the Latin words viridis (green) and flamma (flame. The revision of this group in Taiwan and China compiled by Shipher Wu National Taiwan University and Weichun Chang Council of Agriculture Taiwan contains another intriguing discovery. The scientists provide the first record of a caterpillar from the group feeding exclusively on pine trees Picea morrisonicola in Taiwan. This case represents the first record of conifer-feeding behavior in this family as well as the first specialist herbivore in the genus. Meanwhile the background match between Picea leaves and larval colouration is shared with other Picea-feeding insects. This phenomenon is worth further investigation in the aspect of convergent evolution of crypsis or camouflaging associated with a particular plant explains Shipher Wu one of the authors. Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by Pensoft Publishers. The original story is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference e

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