A poisonous moth? Yes. The cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae), found in Europe and Asia, has wings decorated with bright-red patches that scream, "Do not eat!"
So here's my design for the butterfly ladybug unification for Luka in my upcoming special for the Anatisverse.
Based on the Cinnabar moth and unified with the ladybug miraculous, Luka becomes the hero Cinnabug. I know the name is not as creative as I normally go but I really like it so its staying. I wanted him to look almost ethereal looking and almost like royalty so I decided to give him certain features that he normally doesn't have such as the pointed ears. His outfit is loosely based on his butterfly form I drew up but mixed with his anatis suit. I also added aspects of the Cinnabar moth hence the red pants and the design of his tail coat. I also still wanted to include purple as the moth miraculous is purple themed.
Anyway I think I achieved a good look for him so I'm happy with it. Also keep an eye out. The special based on Miraculous: Paris will be out soon. I did intend to release it for Halloween but sadly things happened and I wasn't able to.
My mothmen pins are here and I love them so much! Almost as much as Rosy Maple Mothman and Cinnabar Mothman love each other! They're wood pins! I made 'em! You can get your own if you think they're neat! You should tell your friends!
Native to northern Asia and Europe, Cinnabar Moths begin their lives as caterpillars feeding almost exclusively on Common Ragwort (a species of plant containing foul-tasting defensive alkaloid chemicals in its tissues that deter most herbivorous insects and are mildly poisonous to many mammals and birds.) In addition to being immune to the effects of the ragwort's chemicals, the caterpillars of this species are able to incorporate them into their own tissues, gradually becoming toxic themselves as they feed in order to ward off most would-be predators; this acquired toxicity, combined with their striking yellow-and-black warning colouration and the rigid hair-like structures (called setae) that line their bodies and allow them to cause itchy rashes on contact by forcing toxins into the tissues of larger animals that touch them, mean that only a small number of highly specialised predators (such as certain species of ants) pose a threat to them, and as such in areas with large populations of Cinnabar Moth caterpillars it is not uncommon for the main cause of death among the larvae to be starvation as they are able to spread between ragwort plants freely and quickly strip an area of food. Developing throughout the summer, individuals that manage to reach a suitable size and age to undergo metamorphosis burrow underground where they spend the winter as pupae, emerging in the following spring as winged, nectar-drinking adults and breeding throughout the spring and summer, with females laying their eggs on the underside of ragwort leaves. Unlike most moths adult Cinnabar Moths are active during the day, and though less toxic than they once were they retain enough toxins from their larval stage to give them an unpleasant bitter taste, with the beautiful red markings on their otherwise jet-black bodies warning would-be predators of this.
- Cinnabar Moth -
'Frequent in open grassy habitats including waste ground, railway banks, gardens and woodland rides but perhaps most frequent on well drained rabbit-grazed grassland, mature sand-dunes and heathland.'
A moth with bright colours that act as warning signs displaying their toxicity. They are seldom eaten by predators. And can afford to live life as a day-flying moth, living life in the sunshine, because of this.
In symbology - 'This creature is seen as a symbol of hope during difficult times. The cinnabar moth has the power to help us let go of our old ways and embrace the new.'
cinnabarmoth: a gender related to cinnabar moths; this may be due to liking cinnabar moths, having a cinnabar moth hyperfixation/special interest, being a cinnabar moth, etc!
goldenemperormoth: a gender related to golden emperor moths; this may be due to liking golden emperor moths, having a golden emperor moth hyperfixation/special interest, being a golden emperor moth, etc!