Bubble Blowing Arctiid

[VTLEPS at aol.com]

Greetings:
While checking my light trap today I spotted a fresh Grammia virgo.  When I
picked the moth up with my forceps it started to blow bubbles from the top of
it's head.  There seemed to be two openings between the head and thorax from
which it exude a liquid that formed small bubbles.  Can any one give me
information on this phenomenon?  Is it a characteristic of Arctiids or just
the genus Grammia?
 
Cheers.

Scott Griggs
vtleps at aol.com