Science Buzz

Tiger Moth: “Stay away, I’m toxic!”

Tiger MothTiger moths have evolved a clever way to avoid being eaten by their biggest predators, bats. Storing up toxins (cardiac glycosides) from the plants they feed on as larvae make them “highly unpalatable”. The moths use special organs called tymbals to broadcast sounds. They use the sounds like other species use bright colours: to warn potential predators: “Stay away, I’m toxic!”