Eur. J. Entomol. 122: 149-153, 2025 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2025.019

Aposematic potential of ultraviolet-visible blue fluorescence in larvae of a cyanogenic zygaeniid moth Eterusia aedea (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)Original article

Ruri SHIMMURA1, Atsushi ISHIHARA ORCID...2, Reika NISHIO1, Hideshi NAKA ORCID...2, *
1 Graduate School of Sustainability Science, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan; e-mails: rs.kitune@gmail.com, reirei.tirano.240@gmail.com
2 Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan; e-mails: aishihara@tottori-u.ac.jp, chun@tottori-u.ac.jp

Some insects deter predators by sequestering toxic compounds and displaying aposematic coloration. The subfamily Chalcosiinae (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) is known for the vivid larval coloration and cyanogenic glycoside secretion by larvae and adults. However, the larvae of a Chalcosiinae moth, Eterusia aedea, exhibit a subdued reddish-brown appearance, which does not visually signal toxicity. In this study, we report that E. aedea larvae and their secreted mucus emit strong blue fluorescence under ultraviolet (UV) light. Fluorescence analysis of the mucus revealed a peak emission at 446.0 nm, a purplish-blue wavelength. Given that avian and reptilian predators possess UV-sensitive vision, this fluorescence may serve as an aposematic signal. While the ecological function of fluorescence in insects remains unclear, our findings suggest that larval fluorescence in E. aedea may play a role in predator deterrence. Further studies are needed to determine whether this fluorescence is perceived and learned by natural predators as a warning signal.

Keywords: Ultraviolet light, emission spectra, predator deterrence, tea pest

Received: February 22, 2025; Revised: June 17, 2025; Accepted: June 17, 2025; Published online: August 1, 2025  Show citation

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SHIMMURA, R., ISHIHARA, A., NISHIO, R., & NAKA, H. (2025). Aposematic potential of ultraviolet-visible blue fluorescence in larvae of a cyanogenic zygaeniid moth Eterusia aedea (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae). EJE, 122, Article 149-153. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2025.019
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