Atlas Moth

Uncategorized 4 Minutes

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 colors and enormous size, and it certainly doesn’t let the family down.

Atlas moths inhabit tropical forests and shrub lands 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 defense 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 lot of research being done to figure out what they like to eat and the best living conditions for them. They also have some cool defense mechanisms!

Let’s take a look at some of the things that make this huge insect so special.

Interesting Atlas Moth Facts

They are the third largest moth in the world

Their wingspan can measure up to 9.4 in and only the white witch (Thysania agrippina) and Attacus caesar moth have surpassed it. The white witch (Thysania agrippina) holds the record with an incredible 12 in wingspan.

They don’t eat

At least, once they emerge as adults, that’s the end of their feeding.

The mature moths have vestigial mouth parts that are small and useless, and as such, the adult stage will only live long enough to mate, which is usually no longer than a couple of weeks.

Atlas moths fly as little as possible

This means that they’re reluctant to use up their precious energy, and with such cumbersome wings, flying is quite resource-intensive. Instead, they spend most of their time within a short distance of the site of their emergence.

At night, or in the evening, they use their huge antennae, each one built like an FM radio antenna, to pick up on pheromone cues from the opposite sex.

Their wing motion is a species feature

Most insects have a rigidity to their wings that aids them in flight. In moths, the beating of a wing involves twisting and bending, which makes the motion very hard to analyze. Researchers trying to figure out the mechanics behind a moth’s flight found it too complex to compare against non-deformable wing simulations.

It’s thought that the nature of a wing’s motion in insects is so unique that it can be used to tell species apart. There’s still quite a lot that doesn’t make sense with these wing motions, and unlocking the mysteries might help engineers design new technologies.

They have a high mortality rate

Moths, like most (if not all) insects, reproduce using what’s known as R-strategy.

This is basically the scatter-gun approach to making babies, where an animal gets out as many eggs and offspring as possible and hopes for the best.

In Atlas moths, this translates to an 89% mortality rate, with most larvae dying not long after hatching from their eggs.

Their silk is prized

Though the silk from the silkworm tends to be produced in longer strands, it’s said that Atlas moth silk is stronger and more durable as a textile.

These properties have led to the cocoons being traditionally used as coin purses in parts of Taiwan, and have led also to more contemporary applications in shoes, jackets, lampshades and scarfs.

This has led to a lot of information on how to rear them

Despite the fact that each species has a supporting role in the sustainability of the ecosystem we live in, it seems like the world only takes an interest in one if there’s a financial gain to be made from it.

Fortunately for the Atlas moth, the quality of its silk has prevented it from being considered a pest – even though it eats a bunch of mango leaves – and instead, great care has been placed in the healthy rearing of captive specimens, to the point where there are entire catalogues of information on how to design the best artificial diet for them.

This information is primarily designed to help people get the best possible silk out of the caterpillars, but it’s also interesting for hobbyists and researchers alike.

The larvae have butt canons

When threatened, the caterpillars of this moth have a very irritating defense.

There are special glands in the abdomen that contain histamine, a compound responsible for allergy symptoms (the one that you take antihistamines to suppress), that, in response to a threat, explode out of pressurized channels to deter predators.

They also look like poo

The bizarre-looking caterpillar of the atlas moth is thought to mimic bird feces as a way of avoiding predation. It produces a waxy white secretion that does make it look a lot like something even less appetizing than a caterpillar.

This wax also functions as a physical barrier against ants and parasites and presumably helps the animal maintain hydration.

Atlas moths even mimic snakes

The adult moth has a dappled and enormous wing area that is said to resemble a snake.

When attacked, they’ve been known to thrash around on the ground, apparently mimicking an uncurling serpent. They’re also known to play dead, blending in with the leaf litter of the forest.

Their local name in Cantonese translates to “snake’s head moth” because of the protrusions on the wings resembling a snake’s head.

SOURCE: FACT ANIMAL

Unknown's avatar

Published by pat frederick

Published

165 thoughts on “Atlas Moth”

  1. Morning All!
    we had incredible thunderstorms last evening and overnight! the lightning lit up the skies in all directions!
    i took the feeders out this morning and was promptly scolded -right in my face- by the one alpha (?) male…lol
    guess he was hungry

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Morning, Pat! You’re getting all the storms that passed thru here, I reckon! Only 61 here this morning with clear skies. Slight chance of more rain but doubtful – front yard mowing has to be done today, as well as the weed eating. GT was late for his breakfast this morning; as usual, he ate and ran. Gorgeous moths!

      This story is exactly what they are trying to do with a lot of nefarious groups to overwhelm the US! North Dakota, FFS!!!! But, then, Gov. Ricketts sent 3 Afghan “families” to Norfolk!!!

      EXCERPT: “Three blocks from where Mohamad Barakat opened fire on police officers and firefighters, the Islamic Society of Fargo-Moorhead squats across from a school bus company. Nearby are other elements of the new enclave like the Somali Community Development group which offers English and citizenship classes and the Al Hamdi Restaurant from whose vicinity an eyewitness reported hearing the shots that took the life of one police officer and wounded two others.

      Officially authorities claim to be baffled by Mohamad’s decision to open fire on cops and firefighters, but the decision by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the bomb squad to search Mohamad’s apartment suggests that they privately have an explosive motive in mind.

      “The first thing we always want to know in a situation like this is, ‘Why? Why would somebody do this?’” Chief David Zibolski wondered. Perhaps he should ask in Fargo’s own Little Mogadishu and inquire of the politicians who turned Fargo into a refugee camp. If Mohamad acted in the name of Islam, it would not be the first terror attack from Fargo.

      In 2016, Dahir Adan, a Somali refugee who penetrated the country along with a massive family that was tragically resettled in Fargo, went on a stabbing spree in a St. Cloud, MN mall. The Somali refugee had gone around the mall shouting “Allahu Akbar” dedicating the violence to his Islamic deity, and demanding to know if potential targets were Muslims before stabbing them.

      ISIS claimed credit for the attack after Adam, like Mohamad, was fatally shot and killed, but not until after he stabbed 10 Americans. Fargo Muslims however quickly rushed to play the victim. “Somali mall workers are afraid to go to their jobs today. I was even afraid to use public restrooms,” Hukun Abdullahi, a local nonprofit leader, had claimed. Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams admitted that her biggest concern from the Muslim terrorist attack was that, “the more we make, you know, these kind of things an issue, the more people are abusive to (refugees) publicly.”

      Police Chief David Todd denied, “I don’t have any indication that radicalization is occurring here in Fargo.” Seven years later, Officer Jake Wallin, who had survived Afghanistan and Iraq, was murdered by a Muslim attacker in Fargo. There’s never any indication until someone dies.

      The violent attacks by Mohamad Barakat and Dahir Adan may surprise people who still think of Fargo, North Dakota as quintessentially American. Refugee resettlement has changed that.”

      https://www.frontpagemag.com/the-islamization-of-north-dakota/

      Liked by 2 people

      1. they do not seek asylum in the us–they seek to conquer it. i would douse everyone of these dead criminals in pig’s blood and let it be known that will be the fate of all who murder in the name of whatever his name is

        Liked by 1 person

  3. hmmm…i don’t have any experience with tornadoes except Twister…is this possible (as pictured in the tweet) could a tornado be THAT small and precise?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, Pat, it is quite possible. The wind can do some VERY strange things sometimes. The tornadoes that hit Pilger, where my nephew lived at the time….took out both of his neighbors’ houses to a certain degree, on either side of him, yet all he lost was a few shingles and it damaged his camper slightly. Same with the damage last week here – blew the roof off of the HS gym and took down a tree in the park across the street, but nothing surrounding them.

      But, considering where we are these days, it is also equally possible that this WAS done purposefully. These days, who the fuck knows any more????

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I get that they can side swipe a house–whatever–but if you look at the picture it must have been tiny to hit the front of the building and yet leave those cars parked there unmoved…just weird

        Liked by 1 person

        1. They can just miraculously drop out of the sky looking like a single, tiny thread, hit one house, then just stop cold and disappear, turning into wisps in the wind. They ARE weird and do weird things.

          Like

    1. This is not ancient history…this is recent times. Someone seems to want all this to be overlooked. Vivek Ramaswamy is a scoundrel, another stealth missile from GOPe targeting DJT…
      Good Morning ☀️!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning!
        i agree. he is saying some of the right things–and that’s what gets the most play–like dismantle the letter agencies–TRUMP released his plans early–the wannabees are copying the parts resonating the strongest.
        but they all have warts and defects. it’s deception all the way

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Citizen 817
    Citizen 817
    July 21, 2023 12:21 am

    @realDonaldTrump

    23h
    Jason Aldean is a fantastic guy who just came out with a great new song. Support Jason all the way. MAGA!!!

    Liked by 2 people

      1. OMG!!! I hadn’t watched the video to the end, where they are talking about helping their neighbors, that guy in the wheelchair who said “when you need help, you’ll get it”? I’m pretty sure that was in Nebraska, altho I can’t find anything on-line about it – at least articles that don’t require payment. But I seem to remember watching it on the news here.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I stopped listening to country for the most part when a lot of the newer singers started going nuts trying to cross-over towards rap so I’m not familiar with the newer singers. And, of course, when my favorite (after George Strait, of course!), Garth, went bonkers! I always used to watch the CMA show but haven’t watched it now in many years. I had heard of Aldean but hadn’t listened to any of his songs. I love this one, that’s for sure! I was cut to the quick when Lee Greenwood bailed on our J6 prisoners! He was another one I truly enjoyed but I can’t stand the man now! Despicable!

      Liked by 1 person

      2. I remember the 50th anniversary tribute to George Jones when he thanked Alan Jackson for staying “country,” a definite shot at the popifcation forces in Nashville. That was 2004 in Nashville.

        Liked by 2 people

        2. Two more country greats – indeed, they stayed true to their roots! My all time dream man, George Strait, did the same. Sucked as an actor (still a great movie, one of my favs) but that man could sing!!! A true hunk, in my estimation, and a REAL cowboy, might I add!!!! His son’s name is Bubba – he is also a country singer, altho I’ve never heard him.

          https://www.wideopencountry.com/bubba-strait-george-strait/

          Liked by 2 people

          1. I’ve never seen a recording artist undergo as many evolutions of style as successfully as George Strait. Amazing…one of my favs too.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. That movie is particularly special to me because of one song, “Carrying Your Love With Me” – the last man I fell in love with travelled….and he was the epitome of the image that George Strait presented – true cowboy thru-and-thru (owned a ranch in NM) and could that man ever dance! Oh, my…..we had adopted that song as “our” song….I gave up on love when that ended.

              Liked by 1 person

  11. Citizen 817
    Citizen 817
    July 21, 2023 12:25 am

    @realDonaldTrump

    10h
    “Joe Biden has admitted he forced Shokin’s firing in late 2015 and early 2016 by threatening to withhold $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees from Ukraine. The prosecutor was fired, but Biden has adamantly denied he did so to help his son’s company. The memo clearly states Burisma owner, Mykola Zlochevsky, told the informant he had been ‘coerced’ into paying the Biden’s money and estimated the price tag to be $10 million.”

    https://justthenews.com/accountability/russia-and-ukraine-scandals/fbi-informant-told-agents-hunter-biden-hired-burisma

    Liked by 2 people

  19. soooooooo true!

    Freedom ring
    July 21, 2023 8:24 am

    A few notes from yesterday showing how upside down and bizarre the dems have become.

    Dems wanting to censor RFK JR for speaking about Dem censorship.

    Democrat congress woman complaining about MTG’s photo of Hunter being shown in congress, after voting for porno material to be available in elementary schools.

    While facilitating false prosecution of Trump for Ukraine corruption, the FBI was hiding document on actual Biden Ukraine corruption.

    Dems in NY voting to give $13 billion to BLM rioters, while feds with Dem agenda are still arresting Stop the Steal rally protestors.

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Blast from the past!! Why would anyone think anything has changed??? With all the US $$$’s flowing in now, it is no doubt exponentially worse!

    “Pedophiles find Ukraine a good place to roam — Nobody knows the depth of the problem, but nation is seen as a hotbed of child pornography, sexual abuse.”
    by Kyiv Post | March 4, 2009, 9:40 pm | Comments ( 1)

    EXCERPT: “Pedophiles roam where they can sexually abuse children with impunity. Unfortunately, Ukraine – with its lax law enforcement, shaky economy and endemic corruption – may provide just the haven they seek. “It’s very widespread,” said Walid Harfouch, publisher of Kyiv’s Paparazzi magazine and a leading socialite.

    The depth of the problem, however, is hard to gauge. From time to time, stories emerge that hint at a strong appetite among adults – including some members of the nation’s political elite — for sex with children.

    One story that got recent publicity involved an investigation into a rumored sexual relationship between a Kyiv city official and a teenage girl younger than 16, the legal age of consent. The case ended after the official publicly denied the accusation, the purported victim withdrew her police testimony and the girl’s father refused to discuss the case.

    Politicians at the highest levels have failed to adopt tough laws that require long prison terms for pedophiles, human rights activists say. Victoria Velychko, head of the All-Ukrainian Public Organization for Equal Rights, said the nation’s laws were among the weakest when it came to punishing sexual violence against children.”

    https://www.kyivpost.com/post/6991

    Liked by 1 person

  23. jeans2nd
    jeans2nd
    July 21, 2023 9:17 am

    Rep Byron Donalds, speaking to Bill Hemmer just now on Fox – Rep Donalds has decided Lisa Monaco needs a bit of looking at, so Rep Donalds has Monaco for Donalds’ extra credit report.

    Best news i’ve heard all day…..but the day is long, they say.

    Liked by 1 person

          1. I’ve not eaten much of it – mostly small pieces grilled for fajitas. I don’t like a strong “wild” flavor, either.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. when i was younger, my family lived next door to hunters. one evening they invited us over for roast venison and from the moment i walked in the door, i felt sick to my stomach. the smell has stuck with me…

              Liked by 1 person

              2. i don’t think that was it.
                everyone raved about it and the smell…me (as a kid) couldn’t get passed they shot bambi–i think that was a large part of it repulsing me tbh

                Liked by 1 person

  33. “Being Against Crime Added To List Of Things That Are Racist”
    ENTERTAINMENT · Jul 20, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    U.S. — Country star Jason Aldean released a controversial single this month called “Try That In A Small Town” in which he laid out his belief that crime is bad. He has since been forcefully condemned by the music industry since being against crime is now considered a racist dog whistle.

    “I was shocked and saddened by the blatant racism in Aldean’s song that condemned violent crime,” said CMT President Brian Philips. “Crime is a beloved and noble tradition of BIPOC communities, and to condemn it is to condemn our own black brothers and sisters. I am sorry we ever allowed it to be aired.”

    Aldean defended himself from the criticism on his Instagram page, saying “What on earth does this have to do with race? I never mentioned race, you guys did! You guys are racist! What’s wrong with you people?” Unfortunately, no one read his statement as Instagram soon removed the post.

    Industry experts joined in denouncing Aldean. “Most of us secretly agree with him, but it’s not cool to say that,” said Universal Music Group CEO Cindy Mabe. “So, please don’t tell anyone I said that. Hey! Stop writing that down!”

    At publishing time, a group of heavily armed Antifa troops was seen outside Aldean’s home to teach him a valuable lesson about being against crime.”

    Like

      1. On the contrary….this has happened – the exact OPPOSITE of what should happen!!! From May:

        “MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A jury trial in a lawsuit seeking $2.4 million in damages from Republicans who attempted to cast Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes for Donald Trump in 2020 even though he lost is scheduled to begin just two months before the 2024 presidential election.

        Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington on Wednesday scheduled the trial to begin on Sept. 3, 2024, and last one month. Defendants are expected to file a motion to dismiss the case in coming weeks. Many other legal moves are expected over the next year that could affect the start date of the trial.

        Democrats filed the lawsuit against the fake electors and two attorneys for Trump, arguing they violated a number of laws and were part of a conspiracy by Trump and his allies to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential race. It also seeks to disqualify the Republicans from ever serving as electors again.

        https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wisconsin/articles/2023-05-24/wisconsin-trial-over-fake-electors-set-to-start-just-before-2024-presidential-election

        Liked by 1 person

  40. “Biden’s Nominee For Top Pentagon Job Is An Unapologetic DEI Activist”
    BY: SCOTT STURMAN
    JULY 20, 2023

    EXCERPT: “Is Gen. Charles Q. Brown qualified to lead the country’s military during these turbulent times?

    As the highest-ranking officer in the United States armed forces, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the primary advisor in military matters to the president, Department of Defense, Homeland Security Council, and the National Security Council. Do the skill sets and history of political activism of the current nominee, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, qualify him to lead the country’s military during these turbulent times?

    The United States military’s reputation and mission readiness are in free fall, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (DEI), which pervade the armed services, bear much of the blame. Brown supports, promotes, and defends DEI passionately and unapologetically. Plunging enlistments, declining public trust and confidence in the highest echelons of command, lowering physical fitness and aptitude standards, and plummeting military power ratings are the result of these self-inflicted wounds. Just as saltwater tarnishes a sword, DEI erodes the fabric of trust, competence, and unit cohesion.

    Brown represents DEI in euphemistic terms that are palatable to the public and allude to fairness and equal opportunity. But DEI has deep Marxist roots based on critical theories, where merit is minimized, and power structures are based on identity, oppression, and racism. It is a stealth weapon devised by academics that breeds conformity of thought, marginalizes members of organizations solely due to superficial characteristics, and engenders favoritism. The Air Force faces a 2,000-pilot deficit, but Brown’s priority is not focused on this crucial concern but rather the racial and sexual distribution of the pilots he commands.

    His unwavering support of identity-based quotas and DEI imperatives is sufficient to justify and rationalize the purge of the depleted pilot corps of competent aviators that is composed of too many white males…..”

    https://thefederalist.com/2023/07/20/bidens-nominee-for-the-top-pentagon-job-is-an-unapologetic-dei-activist/

    Liked by 1 person

  43. j x
    July 21, 2023 12:00 pm

    BREAKING: Federal court slams Biden appointee Jack Smith: Finds Smith’s “proposed schedule is atypically accelerated and inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial” for Trump. Puts off trial till at least May 20, 2024. https://t.co/OTHfvklLaC

    — Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) July 21, 2023

    Liked by 1 person

  44. NEWS: Stan Woodward, appearing late to a sentencing in a Jan. 6 case, says he was delayed because special counsel Smith team started asking his client (believed to be Trump aid Will Russell) questions that infringe on executive privilege.
    Judge MCFADDEN, who ordered Woodward to explain his belated appearance, said he absolved the attorney of anything improper and was upset with prosecutors who had assured him they would not let the grand jury matter interfere with the sentences set for 2pm today
    “Talking about obstructions of official proceedings,” McFadden said sharply. “The government has not acted as I required.”
    NOTABLE: Woodward was reluctant to reveal this in open court. McFadden asked him if that was due to grand jury secrecy rules. And Woodward said yes.

    McFadden then said he would absolve Woodward of any secrecy requirements so he could explain his belated appearance.
    MORE: McFadden has sent a court officer to summon special counsel prosecutors from the grand jury room to his court. (h/t @ryanjreilly)

    Lot of bewildered people in this building at the moment.
    BTW, this is all happening during the sentencing of Freddie KLEIN, a former state department official who spent a long time in the Lower West Terrace tunnel on Jan. 6.
    UPDATE: Thomas WINDOM, prosecutor on Smith’s team, is heading to McFadden’s courtroom.
    ANOTHER UPDATE: McFadden is calmly reading his lengthy verdict for Klein and a codefendant while Smith’s prosecutors wait in the front row.
    Two tweets above incorrectly described McFadden’s proceeding as a “sentencing.” It’s actually a verdict in a bench trial that occurred last week.
    IT’S OVER: Judge McFadden called up Windom for a sealed 6-7 minute bench conference. Windom talked a lot, McFadden talked a lot. Then Windom and one other official left and returned to the grand jury room.
    NEW: Bizarre moment at the courthouse today when an irate Judge McFadden ordered special counsel Smith’s prosecutors to leave the grand jury and come into his courtroom to explain why they made Stan Woodward 25 minutes late to a Jan. 6 verdict.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. yup. I am glad the judge gave a little pushback.’ i think he said something like “…talk about obstructing official proceedings…”

        Liked by 1 person

  47. Well, as usual, that turned into more than mowing….a LOT more. Had my nippers and fold-up saw with me so I took down some willow branches, cut saplings out of 3 evergreens, and weeded, weeded, weeded….those damned Texas stickers are spreading into my yard now. The driveway is bad enough but I will NOT put up with them in my yard!!! Sheesh! Those suckers are THE biggest PIA – they hide in the center of other weeds, or right up next to them, especially dandelions. My fingers are soooo sore!!! The weed eater battery is charged up but that’s going to have to wait until tomorrow. I’m pooped!!! Clouding up a bit, 84 now (man, it was hot out in the sun in a black t-shirt!), almost no breeze.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. bwahahahahahahaha…sure it’s been recovered
    egon Zellschmidt
    July 21, 2023 4:24 pm

    ‘Western-supplied equipment was stolen in Ukraine – Pentagon report
    Some of the military equipment supplied to Ukraine by the US and its allies during the conflict with Russia has fallen into the hands of criminal groups, volunteer fighters and traffickers, a report by the Pentagon inspector general has revealed.’

    But not to worry. After the report was released, Ukraine said they got it all back. Seriously:
    ‘All of the above-mentioned plots were uncovered by the Ukrainian security services, with the equipment being retrieved, the report claimed.’

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah, yeah, yeah….and the moon is made of cheese! FFS….do they seriously think we are THAT stupid? Never mind – don’t answer that!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  49. “This is so ridiculous…”

    “”We’re very, very concerned about this.” A Solano County congressman is sounding the alarm about a mystery company that has bought $800 million of land near Travis AFB….After eight months of investigation, government officials have been unable to identify who’s behind it and rule out any threat to national security…”

    “Always Coca-Cola… Delivery truck parked in ALL of the handicapped spots…”

    @patfrederick = You aren’t the only one who thinks that!!!
    “Whether it is pure coincidence or an act of arson, two possible explanations, Senator Rand Paul’s office was burned in a fire that broke out in Bowling Green, Kentucky on early Friday morning. The fire follows one day after the Kentucky senator referred Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for prosecution to the Department of Justice…”

    https://beckernews.com/rand-pauls-office-building-catches-fire-one-day-after-referring-fauci-for-prosecution-51155/

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.