This week’s moth is a video of a dancing micro from the Philippines (taken by Warren Laurde). As you might suspect this is a mating display that ends in a pretty spectacular headstand. There are lots of other microleps that have dancing or display behavior, but there are almost no other videos online and few as high quality as this one. I am thinking this is a Cosmopterigidae, something approaching the genus Ressia. I am unable to find confirmed records of anything near this genus from SE Asia (and nothing in the Microlepidoptera of the Philippine Islands) – but doing a google search I did find another image of what might be this same moth!
(Izvor)
Ima! I love Warren’s video. Looks like the moth is head-banging going into the headstand.
Oh, my!!! As if that amazing dance and headstand weren’t enough, those RED eyes with that black and white body, wow. GORGEOUS! I’d surely swoon (were I a female moth of that sort…). Thanks for posting that fun video!!
That is cooooool. Great vid, Warren!