Immune-trade-offs

Guides

• Arctia plantaginis

  wood tiger, wood tiger moth

  Arctia plantaginis, commonly known as the wood tiger moth, is a Holarctic moth species in the family Erebidae. Males exhibit striking color polymorphism with yellow or white hindwing morphs, both featuring black banding patterns that function as aposematic warning signals. The species has been extensively studied as a model organism for understanding the evolutionary trade-offs between predator avoidance, sexual selection, immune function, and thermoregulation. Larvae show predator-induced plasticity in warning signal expression, developing more melanized coloration when exposed to predation risk.

  aposematismpolymorphismpredator-induced-plasticitycapital-breedingchemical-defensethermoregulationsexual-selectionimmune-trade-offsmodel-organismHolarctic