Self-decoration
Guides
Synchlora frondaria
southern emerald, wavy-lined emerald
Synchlora frondaria, commonly known as the southern emerald, is a species of emerald moth in the family Geometridae. The species is notable for its remarkable larval camouflage behavior, in which caterpillars decorate their bodies with plant material from their host plants. This self-decoration, combined with phenotypic plasticity in coloration, creates a 'double cloak of invisibility' that allows larvae to blend effectively into diverse backgrounds. The species occurs across a broad geographic range including the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America.