The Giant Atlas Moth- ( 8 - 9 inch wingspan)~ ! by kimariehere

Photography • Animals • posted on Aug 27, 2007

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Description

Hello All!!! This guy is the biggest insect I had ever seen!! Its a monster- lol and even bigger than that luna moth ... heres a little info on him!: These creatures have the largest wing span area of any moth, The Atlas Moth (Attacus Atlas) is named accordingly because of the patterns that resemble maps on their enormous wings. Also on their wings are small, triangular `windows'. We have yet to understand why these transparent sections exist and what purpose they serve. The tips of these wings resemble the heads of snakes, so as to scare of predators, which consist of small mammals and birds. The female Atlas Moth secretes a pheromone from a gland on her abdomen to attract the male. The females utilize the wind to spread their `love scent' for up to three miles. These moths can lay both fertilized and unfertilized eggs. The unfertilized eggs will hatch to be male moths only. The eggs are laid on the underside of a leaf and hatch within eight to fourteen days, depending on the temperature and/or climate. Upon hatching, a small green caterpillar emerges. These have been described as pale green, speckled with white dots, and having sets of both dorsal and subdorsal green spines. The caterpillars eat constantly and a variety of leafs including the Jamaican Cherry Tree, Soursop, Cinnamon, Lime, Pomelo, Rambutan, Guava, and other varieties of citrus fruit leaves. Eventually the caterpillars form pupae. These are encased with a pliable, silken cocoon. This stage of development lasts roughly four weeks. From the cocoon spouts a fully-grown Atlas Moth. These adult moths are mainly nocturnal, and are readily attracted to artificial light. During this adult stage, these moths do no eat but rather feed of the fat deposits stored up from the caterpillar stage. The average life span of the Atlas Moth is two weeks. During this short period of time the adults quickly mate, lay eggs and eventually die. Since their insect family is related to that of silk worms, the moth's broken cocoons and silk strands are used to produce what is known as Fagara Silk. Intact and slightly scarred cocoons are harvested and used whole as coin purses. *please view large to see it better - thanks :O) Thanks for your time and comments !! Love to all!! ((( Big hugs ))) ♥ ~ KImmers :O) !!!

Comments (69)

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DennisReed

5:18PM | Tue, 28 August 2007

WOW! This critters is COOL! :)

vlaaitje

5:16AM | Wed, 29 August 2007

wow what a super moth..I never seen this one in real..lovely presentation

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SSoffia

9:52PM | Wed, 29 August 2007

EXQUISITE ART WORK !!!!! Felicidades !!!!;)

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lizzibell

10:49PM | Wed, 29 August 2007

Beautiful series....

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Punaguy

10:55PM | Mon, 03 September 2007

Wowser Kimmers! What a great find and great shots to do this huge beauty justice!! Wonderful find and capture....you go girl!! Aloha~

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jubchuqun

2:38AM | Tue, 04 September 2007

Beautiful moth! (Related to Mothra of Godzilla moive fame? lol). The colors are brilliant, the display creative and innovative. I just love it. Many kudos!! Li

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