Chemical-sequestration
Guides
Arctiina
Arctiina is a subtribe of tiger moths within the family Erebidae, historically treated as the tribe Arctiini before taxonomic reclassification lowered its rank while retaining its content. The subtribe contains approximately 5 valid genera following extensive synonymization in 2016, with species distributed across the Palaearctic and Neotropical regions. Members exhibit classic tiger moth characteristics including aposematic coloration and, in males, eversible androconial glands (coremata) used for pheromone dispersal during courtship.
Battus polydamas polydamas
Polydamas Swallowtail, Gold Rim Swallowtail, Tailless Swallowtail
The Polydamas swallowtail is a tailless swallowtail butterfly distinguished by its black wings with red or pink spots and a characteristic gold band along the wing margins. Adults are active year-round in tropical regions and are notable for their complete lack of tail-like extensions on the hindwings—a unique trait among New World swallowtails. The species serves as a model for Batesian mimicry, with its aposematic coloration warning predators of its chemical defenses derived from toxic host plants.
Cionus
Target Weevils
Cionus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, tribe Cionini, established by Clairville in 1798. The genus is distributed across the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, and Oriental regions, with over 100 recognized species including 61 Palaearctic and 52 Afrotropical species. Several species are associated with plants in the family Scrophulariaceae, particularly genera Scrophularia and Verbascum.
Trirhabda
skeletonizing leaf beetles, goldenrod beetles
Trirhabda is a genus of skeletonizing leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, comprising over 30 described species distributed in North America and Mexico. These beetles are specialist herbivores primarily associated with plants in the Asteraceae family, particularly goldenrods (Solidago), asters, and related composites. The genus has been extensively studied in ecological research due to its host-specific feeding habits, density-dependent dispersal behaviors, and potential keystone species effects on plant community dynamics. Several species are notable for sequestering defensive compounds and exhibiting complex movement behaviors in response to landscape structure and host plant quality.