Bat-predation-defense
Guides
Cisthene angelus
angel lichen moth
Cisthene angelus is a small moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1904. It belongs to the lichen moth tribe Lithosiini, characterized by larvae that feed on lichens. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other tiger moths in the genus Cisthene, it likely produces ultrasonic clicks as a defense against bat predation, though this specific behavior has not been directly documented in C. angelus.
Cisthene juanita
Juanita's Lichen Moth
Cisthene juanita is a tiger moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1925. It is endemic to southern Arizona, United States. As a member of the genus Cisthene, it belongs to a group of lichen moths known for their often striking color patterns. Related species in this genus have been documented to produce acoustic warning signals to deter bat predators, a behavior termed acoustic aposematism.