Wasp moths of the genus Cosmosoma are striking day-flying insects in the Arctiinae subfamily. Known for their vivid colours and partly transparent wings, they often mimic stinging wasps and rely on specialized chemical defenses to deter predators. Males feed on certain plants, such as dogfennel, to obtain pyrrolizidine alkaloids—compounds that help protect them from attack. During courtship, the male transfers some of these chemicals to the female, giving both her and her eggs an added layer of defense. I came across this beautifully coloured moth in the protected forest of “La Perla”, in the coastal region of Ecuador.