Alkaloid-specialist
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Polychrysia esmeralda
delphinium leaftier
Polychrysia esmeralda, commonly known as the delphinium leaftier, is a noctuid moth described by Charles Oberthür in 1880. The species name derives from Greek roots meaning "many" and "gold," referring to the adult's shining golden wing coloration. It occurs across northern North America and eastern Siberia, with larvae specializing on toxic Ranunculaceae host plants including monkshood and delphinium. The species is notable for its distinctive larval behavior of tying leaves together with silk and spinning a gold-colored cocoon within.