A Species of Sloth Moth (Cryptoses choloepi)
Family: Pyralidae (Snout Moth Family)
IUCN Conservation Status: Unassessed
Cryptoses choloepi is one of several species of "sloth moths", tiny moths in the snout moth family that live in the fur of sloths. Primarily found in Rainforests in Costa Rica, this species specifically inhabits the fur of the Brown-Throated Sloth and is exclusively found alongside its host species. The majority of Brown-Throated Sloths have algae growing in their fur which aids them in camouflaging, and this algae also provides a food source for the moths (although they do not consume enough algae to leave the sloth unable to camouflage.) Once every week a Brown-Throated Sloth descends from the canopy to defecate, and when this happens females of this species that have recently mated will temporarily leave the safety of their host's fur to lay eggs in the fresh sloth droppings - this provides a food source for their caterpillars as they develop (Cryptoses choloepi caterpillars may also use stands of silk to create webs running between multiple dung piles and travel between them to ensure that they are never without food.) After reaching a sufficient size and developing into their adult forms, the newly emerged moths fly into the canopy to look for a sloth of their own to call home. Unlike many cases in which an arthropod lives on the body of mammal, the relationship between Cryptoses choloepi and their host sloths is not parasitic, as while the moths gain both shelter and food from living on the sloth they do not harm their host in any way. It is theorised that the droppings of Cryptoses choloepi provides nitrogen which aids in the growth of the algae in a Brown-Throated Sloth's fur, effectively meaning that each sloth carries a miniature ecosystem in its coat.
Image Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/868785-Cryptoses-choloepi
