Euchaetes

Harris, 1841

tussock moths, milkweed tussock moths, milkweed tiger moths

Species Guides

10

Euchaetes is a of arctiine tussock moths in the Erebidae, described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. The genus includes commonly known as milkweed tussock moths or milkweed tiger moths, many of which are specialized feeders on milkweed plants (Asclepiadaceae). Caterpillars of well-known species such as E. egle sequester cardiac glycosides from their plants, making them unpalatable to . of some species have evolved ultrasonic acoustic defenses against bat , representing a notable example of acoustic aposematism.

Euchaetes perlevis by (c) Sue Carnahan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sue Carnahan. Used under a CC-BY license.Euchaetes zella by (c) Jo Roberts, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jo Roberts. Used under a CC-BY license.Euchaetes fusca by (c) Sue Carnahan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sue Carnahan. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Euchaetes: /juːˈkeɪtiːz/

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Similar Taxa

  • PygarctiaSuperficially similar in appearance to some Euchaetes ; E. nancyae was initially confused with Pygarctia roseicapitis due to similar coloration, but distinguished by white vertex (versus pink in Pygarctia) and molecular divergence exceeding 6%

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Sources and further reading