Wasp moths (Cosmosoma spp.) are masters of deceptive beauty. Though active primarily under the cover of darkness, these moths sport a brilliant guise of protective mimicry, masquerading as stinging wasps to bluff potential predators into leaving them alone. But their defense goes far deeper than mere looks. As caterpillars, they gorge themselves on toxic plants, sequestering those powerful chemical defenses within their own bodies. These stored toxins carry over into adulthood, ensuring the moths possess a highly unpalatable taste that renders them completely unappetizing to anything looking for a snack. I had the pleasure of taking a few photos of this striking moth deep within the lush canopy of the “La Perla” protected rainforest, located along the coastal region of Ecuador.