Blending in like a clever wasp double-ganger, moths in the genus Planusuncus are master survivalists of the tropical rainforest. Recently given their own official group in 2023, these eye-catching tiger moths are famous for their wasp-like bodies and a fascinating habit of collecting dangerous plant poisons for self-defense! Their story begins in the caterpillar stage, where they munch on poisonous leaves to store natural toxins inside their bodies. Once they grow into adult moths, they take this chemical defense even further through a behavior scientists call “drug-feeding”—seeking out withered plants to lap up raw plant toxins! Instead of using these liquids for food, they convert them into bitter protective sprays and seductive mating scents. To round out their diet, adults sip sweet flower nectar and visit damp mud or decaying leaves to soak up vital minerals. I spotted this subtly colored moth taking a quiet break on a tree trunk during a walk through a city park in Puyo, Ecuador—a charming town sitting right on the doorstep of the Amazon rainforest!