The first record of an audible sound produced by a ghost moth, Phassus (Hepialidae) from Costa Rica

Sound prodtiction in lepidopteran adtilts has been reported in at least 13 families.The majority of these families produce ultrasonic sounds that are inatidible to humans.Here we report the first record of an atidible sound produced by a Phassus fip.(Hepialidae) from Costa Rica.The sotmd is clicking or creaking-like, produced as the moth raises its abdomen dorsally (bending the abdomen backwards).The mechanism of this .sotmdproduction is unknown, btit supposed to be a ca,se of stridtiladon.As the moth raised its abdomen, bltie iridescence patches (likely ornamented by structural colors) on the dorstnn were obsened.The clicking .sound is compo.sed of tw'o main parts which varied in frequency and duration.Inferred from the brief observation, the raising of the abdomen and sound prodtiction are pos.siblyu.sed for defense against nattiral enemies.