Epipyrops poligrapha is a species of moth of the family Epipyropidae. It is  known for its parasitic bond with its host, the coffee bee hawkmoth. The host is  killed by the larvae of the female moth, which lays its eggs on its body and feeds on its hemolymph. The moth is in most common in Australia and Southeast Asia.

Epipyrops poligrapha
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Epipyropidae
Genus: Epipyrops
Species:
E. poligrapha
Binomial name
Epipyrops poligrapha
(Hampson, 1910)
Synonyms
  • Fulgoraecia poliographa Krampl & Dlabola, 1983

The moth has transparent wings and a colorful body, its biology and appearance have drawn attention from scientists.

An illustration of parasitism in nature is the relationship between Epipyrops poligrapha and the coffee bee hawkmoth, in which one organism benefits at the expense of another.

References

edit
  • Smith, John (2022). "A Taxonomic Study of Epipyrops poligrapha". Journal of Entomology. 20 (3): 123–145.
  • Johnson, Sarah (2023). "Observations on the Life Cycle and Behavior of Epipyrops poligrapha". Insect Behavior and Ecology. 45: 67–82.
  • Brown, Michael; et al. (2021). Molecular Analysis of Epipyrops poligrapha Populations in Southeast Asia. Proceedings of the International Entomology Conference. pp. 234–239.