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Animalia >Arthropoda >Insecta >Lepidoptera >Cosmopterigidae >Lepidotarphius >

The moth Lepidotarphius peromatella is not only famous for its beauty but also has a diagnostic behavioral characteristic. While remaining stationary, a moth moves its tibias and tursuses. Insects legs are generally moved back and forth within a two-dimensional plane. Lepidotarphius peromatella, however, rotate its legs in three-dimensional space in the same manner as it moves its antennae. This behavior apparently functions to give predators the illusion that the moth tail is the moth head. Lepidotarphius peromatella can avoid predators because the predators confuse the tail with the head. (translated by Asoh)

(Data No.momo031231lp01b)

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