Carminic-acid-sequestration

Guides

• Laetilia coccidivora

  scale-feeding snout moth, Scale-feeding Snout

  Laetilia coccidivora is a small pyralid moth whose larvae are specialized predators of scale insects (family Coccidae). First described by Comstock in 1879, it occurs in the southern United States and has been documented in Mexico preying on Coccus pseudomagnoliarum. The species is notable among Lepidoptera for its entomophagous diet and use of sequestered carminic acid from its prey for chemical defense.

  entomophagouspredatorscale-insect-predatorbiological-controlchemical-defensecarminic-acid-sequestration