Linnaeus's Joker

Naming

In the 19th century Henry Walter Bates realised that some butterflies were toxic to birds. He noted that birds appeared able to memorise the bold patterns of these butterflies, and could thereby learn to avoid attacking them again, so avoiding illness. He also noticed that a large number of butterfly species, even ones that were quite unrelated, had very similar patterns and colours. Linking these observations he postulated a theory of mimicry, whereby palatable species - by a process of natural selection - become almost identical in appearance to toxic ones, thereby fooling birds into leaving them alone. This type of survival strategy became known as Batesian mimicry.

It seems likely that Cyllopoda could be members of a mimicry complex that involves several genera of yellow and black diurnal moths including Xanthiris, Seriocastnia and Myonia; and butterflies such as the Riodinid Chamaelimnas briola and the Pyrgine Cabirus procas.

Behavior

Male Cyllopoda are often seen in one's and two's aggregating on sandbanks or dry riverbeds with Xanthiris flaveolata, Atyria albifrons ( both Geometridae ), Seriocastnia amalthea ( Agaristidae ) and other black and yellow diurnal species. This strongly suggests a Mullerian or Batesian mimicry complex, where unrelated genera have evolved a common aposematic colour scheme to advertise their actual or supposed toxicity to insectivorous birds.