Pyrrolizidine-alkaloid-sequestration
Guides
Gnophaela latipennis
Wild Forget-me-not Moth
Gnophaela latipennis, commonly known as the Wild Forget-me-not Moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in the western United States, specifically in Oregon and California. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1852. Adults are active from late spring through mid-summer, and the larvae feed on several genera of plants in the borage family, including Cynoglossum, Hackelia, Mertensia, and Myosotis.
Ithomiini
clearwings, glasswings, tigerwings
Ithomiini is a diverse tribe of approximately 370 species in 40–45 genera, endemic to the Neotropics from Mexico to Argentina. These butterflies are renowned for their Müllerian mimicry rings, slow flight, and unpalatability derived from sequestered pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Adults actively seek out and sequester these defensive compounds from plants rather than synthesizing them de novo. The tribe represents the largest known radiation of Müllerian mimetic butterflies and dominates Neotropical mimetic butterfly communities by number.
Tyria
cinnabar moths
Tyria is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, best known for Tyria jacobaeae (the cinnabar moth), a specialist herbivore that has been extensively studied for its role in biological control of toxic ragwort plants. The genus contains day-flying moths with aposematic coloration warning predators of their chemical defenses. Larvae sequester pyrrolizidine alkaloids from host plants in the genus Senecio.
Tyria jacobaeae
Cinnabar moth
The cinnabar moth is a specialist herbivore native to Europe and western Asia, introduced to North America, Australia, and New Zealand for biological control of ragwort. Adults display aposematic black and red coloration advertising their chemical defense. Larvae sequester toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids from host plants, rendering them unpalatable to predators. The species has been extensively studied for its population ecology, dispersal behavior, and multitrophic chemical ecology.
Utetheisa ornatrix
Ornate Bella Moth, Bella Moth, Rattlebox Moth, Ornate Moth
Utetheisa ornatrix is a diurnal moth distinguished by its aposematic coloration ranging from pink, red, orange, and yellow to white with black markings. The species has a wingspan of 33–46 mm and is found from the southeastern United States through Central America to South America. Larvae specialize on Crotalaria species (Fabaceae), sequestering toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids that render them unpalatable to predators. The species exhibits complex mating behavior including female polyandry, nuptial gift transfer, and pheromone-mediated mate choice.