This species of caterpillar has an interesting defense mechanism. When disturbed, it arches its back, revealing a pair of large frightening eyes and two rows of barred teeth.
The pink underwing moth is a rare insect from subtropical New South Wales through Queensland and New Guinea. It sustains on rotting fruit. It is nocturnal but doesn’t seem to be strongly attracted to light.
The name was inspired by the bright pink bars on its hidden hind underwings. Some experts believe that as a defense mechanism. Experts theorize that a sudden flash of bright colors can startle a predator long enough for the moth to escape. The image of the skeleton makes it looks more threatening than it actually is.
It is sometimes referred to as the ‘Big-headed caterpillar’, which refers to the large false head that appears when the caterpillar adopts its defensive posture.
When they first hatch, caterpillars are a bland brown in color. This helps them better blend into their surroundings to avoid detection by predators. But as it grows, it develops a vague skeletal image for them to surprise predators.
Source: Oddity Central, Natura Pacific, Frank McGrath