Sloth moth
Bradypophila garbei
, a species of sloth moth.A sloth moth is a
Bradypophila garbei.[2]
Certain lepidopteran moths of the
Bradypus variegatus infuscatus. Adult female moths leave the fur of the sloth to lay eggs in the sloth droppings when the sloth descends, once a week, to the forest floor to defecate. The larvae of Cryptoses choloepi live in the dung and newly emerged moths later fly from the dung pile into the forest canopy to find a host sloth.[3][4]
Chrysaugine moths, such as oviposit. An imbalance in population sex ratios favouring males has been noticed and surmised as female moths not making it back to host sloths after ovipositing.[1]
Sloth moths are thought to get nutrients from the secretions of the sloths' skin and the algae present on the fur, as well as protection from avian predators.[1]
Some individual three-toed sloths have been recorded carrying more than 120 moths in their fur. Two-toed sloths are recorded as harbouring lower populations. Several different moth species may coexist on the same host animal.[1]
See also
References
Further reading
- Pauli, Jonathan N.; Mendoza, Jorge E.; Steffan, Shawn A.; Carey, Cayelan C.; Weimer, Paul J.; Peery, M. Zachariah (2014). "A syndrome of mutualism reinforces the lifestyle of a sloth". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 281 (1778): 20133006. PMID 24452028.