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The Yellow-Collared Scape Moth (Cisseps fulvicollis) has long black wings, an abdomen of iridescent blue, and a bright yellow or orange collar, from which it takes its name. Since many tend to have a more orange collar, it is also known by its other common name, Orange-Collared Scape Moth.

While the above moth is enjoying some pink chrysanthemums, Yellow-collared scape moths are frequently found on flowers of Eupatorium, a genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae. Eupatorium are toxic to most animals. However the moths have developed a tolerance against the toxins. Males feed on these plants and acquire and store the toxins. Later they transfer them to the females as a mating gift. In turn females use the toxins to protect their eggs against predators. I wonder if there are any other cases of sexually-acquired protection in Nature? I'm sure there must be.

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I wish all my Flickr friends Happy Holidays no matter what your religious beliefs may be. Many thanks for all your many generous comments and favs on my photos. May you all find true peace in your lives and be able to share the love with your families at this special time of the year.

Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia)

Junonia coenia is tawny-colored with conspicuous eyespots on both the fore- and hind-wings. Buckeyes occur through much of the United States, northern Mexico and Cuba, and frequent open, sunny habitats with some bare ground. Caterpillars feed on plantain, snapdragon, Gerardia, figworts, and vervains. By incorporating toxins (iridoid glycosides) from these plants, the caterpillars deter predatory ants. It cannot survive winters in the north, and in the autumn migrates overwinters in the deep South. Junonia coenia has several generations each year. In the autumn generation the underside of the wings is dark brown, but in the generations that grow up in the summer the undersides are a pale tan. This difference in pigmentation is controlled by ecdysone, a steroid hormone, whose secretion is affected by the shortening days in the autumn.