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eximago: Sloth Moth (Cryptoses choloepi)

The sloth moth is a species of Pyralid moth that is adapted to living in the fur of sloths. They are well protected in the fur from insectivorous birds and thrive off of skin secretions and the abundant algae that grows there. Only females leave the protection of the sloth fur when its host makes its weekly trip to the ground to defecate. The sloth’s excrement will serve as food for her larvae and she uses the opportunity to lay her eggs within it. Once the young reach maturity, they fly towards the canopy in search of a host sloth. These moths live exclusively on the fur of the brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus), though other species exist on other sloths.

That is one seriously awesome moth.

Posted on April 1, 2012 via with 78 notes

Source: eximago
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  Sloths really are the unwashed hippies of the animal world.
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  I love nature so much
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  !!!
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  Sloth Moth (Cryptoses choloepi)
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  Thought this was an April Fool’s joke
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  That is one seriously awesome moth.
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Hopeful Spontaneous monster