Atlas moth

When I was on a historical tour in China, I visited an antique silk factory in Fujian, China. Inside, there were swaths of unfinished silk rolls and a small shop selling a multitude of silk products. One of the main attractions was the beauty cocoons, as women grabbed as many as 10 bags while excitedly boasting the cocoons’ anti-aging and skin firming effects. Detailed instructions on using beauty cocoons can be found Silk Beauty Cocoons. Photo Credit: Me! The Bombyx mori, or the domesticated silkmoth, is part of the order Lepidoptera. Silkworms primarily Despite their proclaimed skincare benefits, silk beauty cocoons are obtained by boiling the cocoons of silkworms, killing the larvae inside. In fact, even if silkmoth caterpillars are allowed to live past their pupal stage, silkmoths emerge The Atlas moth B. mori is highly prized, the light brown silk cocoons of A. atlas is also widely used and harvested. These two types of silk have comparable physical properties, but A. atlas larvae are composed of broken strands of brown Fagara Silk, a durable silk Wingtips of the Atlas moth are similar in appearance to a snake's head. Photo Credit: http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Caterpillar%20-%20Attacus%20atlas.htm Despite the slew of misfortune the Atlas moth faces, they also have heavy defense mechanisms. When in danger, the Atlas moth will drop to the ground and fan its wings, using its wingtips to imitate the A. atlas larvae will also secrete a defensive irritant when its h...

Atlas Moth Profile In Cantonese, it’s known as the “Snake’s Head Moth” and is said to resemble a cobra. In Indonesia, locals call it Kupu Gajah: the elephant, or “large” butterfly. And large it is! This is one of the largest insects in the world, and one of the top three biggest moths. Named after a Titan of Greek mythology, the Atlas moth lives up to its name. It’s a member of the Saturnids: a family known for their dazzling colours and enormous size, and it certainly doesn’t let the family down. Atlas Moth Facts Overview Habitat: Tropical forests and shrublands Location: South and Southeast Asia Lifespan: About 100 days from hatching, a few days to a fortnight as an adult Size: 24cm (9.4 inches) wingspan Weight: Up to 30g (1oz) Color: Dappled brown Diet: Cinnamon and fruit tree leaves Predators: Birds, lizards, ants, parasites Top Speed: Slow No. of Species: 1 Conservation Status: Not listed Atlas moths inhabit tropical forests and shrublands across South and Southeast Asia. They have the largest wing area of any moth, and its body is disproportionally small in comparison to its wings. This surface area gives it an advantage when it comes to defending against predators, but it makes the animal cumbersome in flight. As such, it prefers to relax for its short life as an adult moth, only taking action in defence or response to the smell of a mate. These gentle giants can cause havoc in a citrus plantation, but they’re becoming very popular for their silk. This has led to a ...

The Atlas Moth is the world’s largest moth in terms of their wing surface area, and second largest by wingspan (only next to the white witch moth), endemic to the Southeast Asian countries including India and China. These dazzlingly elegant and beautiful creatures are known for their multicolored wings that give them their characteristic bright looks. This saturniid moth is also known for its extremely low lifespan, and the absence of a mouth. The Atlas Moths are found throughout the year; however, they are most abundant between November and January. They are also popular as pets, since it is easy to keep them, and they do not try to escape. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Saturniidae Genus: Attacus Species: A. atlas Scientific Name: Attacus atlas Physical Description/Appearance Wing Size: An atlas moth measures between 25 and 30 cm (9.8 and 11.8 inches), with a wing surface area of about 400 square cm (62 square inches). Wing Color: The dorsal side of the wings are copper to reddish-brown having black, white, and pink to purple lines, and various geometrical patterns with black borders. Both the forewings are prominently protruded out at the top tips. The ventral sides of the wings are lighter or paler. Weight: Owing to its large size, the moth weighs heavier than almost all known moth species, with the males weighing approximately around 25 grams and females around 28 grams. Body & Head: The size of the body is proportionate...

BELLEVUE, Wash. — State agriculture officials and entomologists are asking the public to be on the lookout for the world’s largest known moth after one was seen in Bellevue last month. A University of Washington professor initially reported a sighting of the atlas moth, which has a wingspan of up to nearly 10 inches, to the Washington State Department of Agriculture on July 7. Once WSDA entomologists identified it as an atlas moth, they sent it to the WSDA, who confirmed the specimen as an atlas moth on July 27. This is believed to be the first confirmed detection of the moth in the U.S. “This is normally a tropical moth. We are not sure it could survive here,” Spichiger said. “WSDA is gathering available scientific and technical information about this moth and will provide response recommendations, but in the meantime, we hope residents will help us learn if this was a one-off escapee or whether there might indeed be a population in the area.” WSDA spokesperson Karla Salp says one caterpillar wouldn’t cause problems. However, an infestation of the invasive species could do some serious harm to local cherry and apple trees. “They defoliate trees,” said Salp. “It could really impact our trade with other countries.” Frequently, the massive moth can be seen by visitors at the Pacific Science Center. Back in July, there were about 30 fluttering around the Tropical Butterfly House. Experts there tell KIRO 7 the massive moth lives for only six days, but in that time, a female ca...

The Atlas moth ( Attacus atlas) is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan of over 9.8 inches. Females are slightly larger than males. Like other moths in the family Saturniidae, adults do not have working mouth parts and only live for a few days to a week. Although there are more than 20 species and subspecies in the genus Attacus, the Atlas moth is a native to the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia. They are cultivated in some areas for their silk called fagara, which is rough and woolly. When you visit, you can sometimes find one or two hanging out in our lepidoptera rearing lab window!

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Meet the atlas moth. It’s one of the largest moths in the world and it was detected in the United States for the first time. Washington State environmental officials have confirmed the detection of a single atlas moth. They said there is no evidence that the moth population is established in Washington. “This is a ‘gee-whiz’ type of insect because it is so large,” Sven Spichiger, WSDA managing entomologist, said. “Even if you aren’t on the lookout for insects, this is the type that people get their phones out and take a picture of – they are that striking.” Read: Invasive spotted lanternfly found in Michigan for first time: What to know There aren’t reports of the moth anywhere else in the United States, but if you think you find one you should take a picture of it, note the location and let officials know. The atlas moth was reported in Washington on July 7 and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Investigation Service confirmed the specimen as an atlas moth on July 27. It has a wingspan of up to almost 10 inches. It’s a federal quarantined pest, which means it’s illegal to obtain, harbor, breed or sell without a permit from the USDA. This is normally a tropical moth. We are not sure it could survive here,” Spichiger said. “USDA is gathering available scientific and technical information about this moth and will provide response recommendations, but in the meantime, we hope residents will help us learn if this was a one-off escapee or whether there might indee...

A moth with a wingspan of 10 inches has been found in the U.S. for the first time, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, which is asking residents to report further sightings. The atlas moth — considered one of the world's largest moths — was first reported to the state agency by a University of Washington professor last month. It was seen in Bellevue, a large suburb of Seattle. The moth was sent to the U.S. Agriculture Department, which identified it as an atlas moth. It is believed to be the first detection of the moth in the U.S. The atlas moth on a garage wall in Bellevue, Wash., last month. Washington State Department of Agriculture “This is a ‘gee-whiz’ type of insect, because it is so large,” said Sven Spichiger, the managing entomologist for the state Agriculture Department. “Even if you aren’t on the lookout for insects, this is the type that people get their phones out and take a picture of — they are that striking.”

Appearance The atlas moth is a large insect with two wings resting either side of a short, chubby body. These wings are primarily orange or orangish brown with a range of patterns across them. This includes triangular transluscent patches in the middle of the wing. A black wavy line runs along the wing margin which is lighter in color. The wing tip is curved. An atlas moths wings are made up of thousands of overlapping scales. These are pigmented to create the colors seen on the wings. Their body measures between 16 and 30cm (6.25 and 12in) across. Males are typically smaller than females. While originally considered the largest moth this title is now given to the Hercules moth. Males can be distinguished from females as they have a pair of feathery antennae which project from their head. Diet As an adult the atlas moth does not consume any food. They survive off of a fat store from their caterpillar stage. During their larval stage they will feed on leaves. Reproduction Adult atlas moths are fully focused on breeding. Males can detect the scent of a female from miles away using their feathery antenna. They will follow this to mate with her. She will then deposit up to 250 eggs on the underside of a leaf which will provide food once the eggs hatch. The caterpillars which hatch from the eggs can create a secretion which is believed to help defend them against predators. They will then enter a cocoon. This cocoon is spun from brown silk and is highly durable. They spend a mo...

The atlas moth is one of the largest moth species in the world. Its massive wingspan is wider than a human hand. Found in tropical and forest habitats throughout Asia, the atlas moth has reddish-brown wings with triangular patterns outlined in black. This extraordinary moth also lacks the ability to eat and has an incredibly short lifespan. 1. Atlas Moths Are Massive One of the largest Attacus atlas) is found throughout Asia and is widespread in China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, and Taiwan. With a wingspan of up to 12 inches and a total surface area of as much as 62 square inches, it is second only to the white witch moth in wingspan and the Hercules moth in total wing surface area. Naturfoto Honal / Getty Images Atlas moths begin their lives as good-sized caterpillars. Two weeks after hatching, the atlas moth caterpillar feeds ravenously, first on its eggshell and then on its favorite leaves from citrus, guava, cinnamon, and Jamaican cherry trees, taking in enough food to last for its pupa and adult moth stages. Those caterpillars that live in captivity (such as in a butterfly conservatory) may be kept in a special feeding area to feast on privet, a type of flowering shrub, so as not to decimate other plants. Luke Brown, manager of the British Natural History Museum's butterfly house, said, "We don't let them roam free in the exhibition because they eat so much. This allows them to build up fat reserves for the adult to live off. If we ...