''Dysphania militaris'' is a species of moth of the Geometridae family that can be found from the Oriental region to Sundaland.
Larvae have been reared on ''Carallia'' species.
Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
By Thibaud Aronson
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Uploaded Jul 26, 2016. Captured May 4, 2015 06:54 in Unnamed Road, Bhutan.
comments (9)
The grim background is indeed ... a steaming cow pat! Posted 9 years ago
First of all, these are MOTHS! Dysphania militaris, also called False Tiger Moths, are often mistaken for butterflies because of their bright colors and diurnal activity. This photo shows a really cool behavior called ‘puddling’. Puddling is when moths, butterflies, and other insects obtain nutrients by sucking up fluid from scat, mud, carrion, and rotting vegetation. It may sound gross, but it enables them to get nutrients such as salts and amino acids that they wouldn’t get from nectar. Males especially seem to benefit from the extra sodium intake, which increases their reproductive success. The extra sodium is often transferred to the female during mating as a nuptial gift. This enhanced nutrition also increases the survival rate of the eggs. The moths in this photo are puddling on a cow pat. So, you could say that one creature's waste is another creature's treasure! {Spotted in Bhutan by JungleDragon moderator, Thibaud Aronson} #JungleDragon Posted 6 years ago