Madagascar Sunset Moth

Nature 2 Minutes

Madagascar sunset moths (Chrysiridia rhipheus) are brightly colored moths native only to the island of Madagascar. Their unique beauty makes them a favorite of traditional jewelry makers and artists who use the moths’ iridescent wings to create works of art. In addition to their beauty, there are several aspects that set Madagascar sunset moths apart from other moths.

Behavior

Madagascar sunset moths are diurnal, meaning, unlike most moths, they are active during the day. This habit, as well as the bright colors and shape of their wings, causes them to frequently be mistaken for swallowtail butterflies. During the daylight hours they can be seen flitting from one flower to another feeding on nectar. As adults, they show a strong preference for white flowers, although not for specific plants.

Larvae

They caterpillars, or larvae, of Madagascar sunset moths are much more picky in their feeding habits. They will only eat plants from the family Omphalea, which are toxic to most animals. They hatch from eggs laid only on the underside of the leaves of these plants. Upon hatching they consume the entire plant — leaves, flowers and stems. Once that plant is decimated they move on to another of the same family. These caterpillars are easy to distinguish, as their bodies are white or shades of light yellow with black spots, and they have bright red feet.

Defense

Madagascar sunset moths have only one means of defense — they are poisonous. The toxins contained in the Omphalea plants are eaten by the caterpillars but not digested. Instead these toxins remain in their bodies through pupation and into adulthood. The result is a moth that is toxic to most predators. Their brightly colored wings may serve as a warning predators to leave them alone or suffer the consequences.

Description

By far the most noticeable distinguishing characteristic of Madagascar sunset moths is their appearance. They are large moths, boasting a wingspan of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. It’s their wings that really get them noticed. They are iridescent and appear to be in shades of black, red, green and blue. Every time the moths move their wings, the colors and patterns shift, creating a kaleidoscope effect. It’s really just an optical illusion, though. Most of the of the moths’ wings contain no pigment at all, and in subdued light they appear bland and unremarkable. The flashy colors are created by the curvature of the scales on their wings that reflect light in different angles, giving the appearance of color.

SOURCE: PETS on MOM

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Published by pat frederick

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254 thoughts on “Madagascar Sunset Moth”

  1. Good Morning, Miss Pat! The Madagascar moth is an interesting creature.

    Have y’all thawed out yet? Down here early Spring has come with Japanese magnolias, maples, wild plums and violets blooming.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Sally and I got a pretty good night’s sleep for a hospital post op – 4 hours uninterrupted! They are managing her pain pretty well. I’ve been impressed with everyone who has looked after her. 

        Liked by 2 people

        1. that’s got to be a relief!
          when hubby was in the hospital he had good people watching over him…but his one nurse? we called her Woodstock. she was an on call relief staffer i guess–called in because someone else was sick she was older–much older than the normal staff. first thing she told hubby? i was a nurse back when we were giving heroin to patients.
          always talking to herself.

          Liked by 2 people

    1. Morning, Pat! We actually got a bit of sunshine later in the afternoon yesterday and made it to 50. We’re at 31 now with more rain possible today. Temps all predicted to be above freezing during daylight hours for the next 10 days. I sure hope the annuals don’t get fooled!!!

      BTW, found these videos re: Toby Keith in case you’d like to bookmark them. I believe this first one – I think the last time he sang in public 4 mos. ago – was 100% about his coming death, IMO. CMT did a great tribute show but it’s not available on-line yet. They discuss his illness towards the end of the tribute.

      Greatest hits re-cap:

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Much improved, thank you! I was able to eat at least half of the one frozen meal I’ve been able to eat thru-out. My stomach is still doing some cartwheels now and then but nothing like the pain I had before.

          Liked by 1 person

            1. No but I’ve not been going outside of my patio. I was never able to find out where he goes when he leaves here or where he’s coming from. Haven’t a clue where his hidey-hole is…or maybe was now….

              Liked by 1 person

  8. Troublemaker10

    February 9, 2024 12:23 am

    Paul Sperry
    @paulsperry_

    BREAKING: FBI agents abandoned the crime scene @ Biden’s Delaware home for 22 days over 2023 Christmas holidays, leaving it unsecured, not taped off & wide open for 2 Biden lawyers to come in and rummage thru docs. DOJ asked 1 of lawyers to ensure “that the garage remains secure”

    12:20 AM · Feb 9, 2024

    https://twitter.com/paulsperry_/status/1755824088654766396

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Oh, cool! Thanks! Yep, as RINO as RINO can be!!! Joe Herring is a familiar name here. Last I heard, my buddy Todd Watson is the head of the GOP committee in the Lincoln area. No doubt he had a LOT to do with this!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Cactus

    February 9, 2024 6:55 am

    TODAY … TODAY … TODAY

    LIVE: PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP ADDRESSES …… NRA MEMBERS …….. IN HARRISBURG, PA – 2/9/24

    President Trump will headline the NRA Presidential Forum, part of the organization’s Great American Outdoor Show, on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

    RSBN will have full coverage of Trump’s remarks. Stay tuned for the official start time.

    The normal excellent coverage by RSBNETWORK.COM

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Wow! Madagascar is a big source of really unusual animals! BTW, found this excerpt from Tucker’s interview – RT/DecoyVoice – Kea has posted some of his videos before.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. I know, I know….it’s all Kabuki theater but….

    “Impeachment witness struggled to define Hunter Biden’s value to Chinese company”
    By Steven Richards
    Published: February 8, 2024 12:30pm
    Updated: February 8, 2024 12:57pm

    EXCERPTS @ JustTheNews: “In a newly released transcript from the House Oversight Committee, impeachment witness Mervyn Yan could not define what value Hunter Biden provided to a joint venture he had established with a Chinese energy company.

    Yan, worked as an “independent contractor” for CEFC China Energy (CEFC) also told investigators how he wired Hunter and James Biden monthly salaries despite their failure to secure any infrastructure projects for Hudson West III, the joint venture between Hunter Biden and CEFC, according to the transcript reviewed by Just the News.

    —————

    In his interview, Yan confirmed to investigators that none of the five energy deals Hudson West III attempted during his time at the company ever succeeded, despite Hunter Biden being responsible for helping to secure those deals….Despite the apparent failure of Hudson West III to actually invest in any American infrastructure projects, Yan told the committee staff that he continued to transfer substantial monthly salaries to both Hunter Biden and his uncle, James Biden in 2017, 2018, and beyond.

    —————

    Yan also confirmed a previous report from Senate investigators that James Biden and his wife, Sara Biden, along with their nephew Hunter, received credit cards from Hudson West LLC, though Yan claimed to have no knowledge of what the Bidens spent.

    —————

    Yan told the committee that he never met or contacted Joe Biden and did not believe that he ever benefited from his son’s arrangements with CEFC through Hudson West III. Democrats have argued because this lack of evidence connecting Joe Biden directly to his son’s business dealings, the impeachment lacks foundation.

    —————

    Oversight Chairman Comer believes the information that Yan confirmed will provide the foundation for interviews with future impeachment witnesses. “Mervyn Yan admitted on the record the Bidens had no experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors and was not sure what they brought to the table. His testimony raises many questions about the Bidens’ dealings with the Chinese government linked energy firm and we hope to learn more tomorrow from Rob Walker, another Biden family associate,” Comer said in late January after Yan’s interview.

    Next week, Tony Bobulinski, another Biden associate with a front row seat to Hunter’s initial relationship with CEFC and its Chairman Ye Jianming, is set to appear for a closed door interview with the committee. The following week, the president’s brother, James Biden is scheduled to appear for an interview.”

    https://justthenews.com/accountability/political-ethics/hold1230pm-impeachment-witness-struggled-define-hunter-bidens-value

    Liked by 1 person

  20. “Vladimir Putin Interview with Tucker Carlson – With Badlands Media Commentary”
    https://rumble.com/v4c9496-vladimir-putin-interview-with-tucker-carlson-with-badlands-media-commentary.html
    Our Take: “This was my wish list before the interview:

    Tell Normies about that time the US backed a coup against a pro-Russian president in Ukraine in 2014 only to pave the way for the murder of 14,000 ethnic Russian civilians by the CIA-trained and funded Azov battalion after ignoring two referenda for the Donbas to join the Russian Federation.

    Tell Normies how NATO has repeatedly violated its promise to refrain from eastward expansion since 1989, culminating in the attempted annexation of the Baltic States and Ukraine into an anti-Russian bulwark.

    Confirm that Russia considers the 2020 US election to be suspect at best and the Biden Administration to be illegitimate while referencing the persecution of political rivals (ie: Trump) in moves reminiscent of the former Soviet Union.

    Take the petrodollar, western sanctions and Central Bankers to task for failing.

    Comment on the successful communist subversion in the West while explaining the steps taken in Russia since the 90s to undo that very thing.

    … and this was my follow-up:

    I’ll say we went 4/5 on predictions. No commie talk:

    Putin did, however, go in deep with the Maidan Coup, CIA backing of said coup (and intel agency-led coups being one of the key vectors of asymmetric western power projection,) NATO expansionism and the petrodollar as a globalist weapon of war, and US elections being suspect at best (referring to the States deciding who gets to be on the ballot.)

    In terms of tasty little surprises, he opened with a fascinating (and entirely necessary) Russian history lesson, focusing not so much on the Russian Federation, but the Russian people.

    His more esoteric asides on everything from peace between religions to ‘inherent laws’ presented the sort of big-picture thinking and philosophizing we’re not used to from modern-day leaders.

    Finally, I personally believe he hinted at the gravity of both Devolution and the Sovereign Alliance when he suggested conditions changed between 2014 and 2022 that allowed him to make the moves he did in the Donbas.” — Burning Bright

    Liked by 1 person

  21. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/02/08/biden-classified-documents-special-counsel-report/

    Our Take: “On the one hand, as this article points out, there is a two-tiered justice system at play. Trump is being drowned in fake charges as a form of election interference while Biden slips away from a life of crime, into a haze of Alzheimer’s, in full public view, in real time. It’s all so cartoonish.

    However, any sober look at this situation makes it clear that very little about Biden’s struggle is being hidden. The narrative has shifted. But in response to what?

    The shadow war has to be considered, in terms of who is really in control, and what the rules and dimensions of this particular battle are. There is palpable friction here. Even though fifth generation warfare keeps much of the struggle covert, the basic underlying reality of war can bring clarity. War is a struggle between two hostile, independent, and irreconcilable wills, and this is undoubtedly the source of the mounting friction we all sense. Good versus Evil.

    Why has the DOJ, and legacy media suddenly turned on Biden? What is the new narrative being constructed? But more importantly who is the Deep State reacting to?

    ’Everything in war is simple, but the simplest thing is difficult. The difficulties accumulate and end by producing a kind of friction that is inconceivable unless one has experienced war.’ —Carl von Clausewitz

    Is the friction of this war about to swallow Joe Biden? Is his sacrifice part of a well thought out plan by his puppeteers, or is it in reaction to the fifth generation operations targeting the deep state? What are the good guys up to in the midst of this? If you could point to their will in this irreconcilable struggle, where would you point?

    Remember, if ‘they never thought she would lose,’ then the entire Biden presidency has to be reactionary in nature. It cannot be part of any uninterrupted plan to destroy America. Trump was the interruption. Ever since Trump, our enemy has been increasingly reactionary.

    Certainty is not our cognitive ally in this moment, but something palpable is about to shift, and ‘Panic in DC’ was trending on Twitter tonight.” — Simon Esler

    Liked by 1 person

    1. they will attempt to blame all the decisions that America hates right now on the maggot…otherwise the new dem candidate will take all the terrible heat for DEMOCRAT’S policies…
      see? they can be the SAVIOR from the dementia patient…it’s HIM–not me…but you can’t really blame him–he’s in mental decline.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. No, I can’t – Rodney is convinced, come hell or high water, he needs to be basically tortured. I just can’t agree with that – he is NOT mentally competent. He wants a public flogging/hanging or something equally gruesome. No, sorry – as I said to him yesterday, that would be like torturing a retarded puppy! The man has no clue even where he IS half the time! No, I’m ok with a painless death from a needle, personally.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. i do not agree with letting him go quietly into the night however. neither he– nor jill who is part of this– deserve to go scott free.
          there has to be consequences. financial as well as personal.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Well, I do advocate the death penalty, personally. Treason has been committed! And yes, there are a LOT of people who deserve such a sentence! It is what it is!

            Liked by 1 person

              1. Yes but I don’t care if it’s somewhat painful…the issue is, I truly don’t think he even knows what fricking planet he’s on!!! It would be one thing if he was cognizant enough to understand WHY this was happening but he really doesn’t. I just think it would be gratuitous cruelty of a mindless creature! Just like a rabid animal – you don’t mess around trying to draw it out – just get it the fuck over with.

                Liked by 1 person

              2. wow.
                i am on the not convinced bench at this point.
                I have known…and married briefly…one of the best liars on the planet. is he senile? forgetful?
                the thing about liars–they have to have GOOD memories…and that fades over time no matter who you are. i am unconvinced that part of this isn’t SHOW to skate on the horrendous crap he did

                Liked by 1 person

              3. Maybe in a small sliver of his brain but it is clear he has been manipulated all the way thru this debacle. At least to me anyway. It truly is elder abuse, IMO.

                Liked by 1 person

              4. there’s some of that no doubt.
                but joe has always been a douche and a lecher. making backstreet deals selling out the country for personal gain.
                he gets no redemption from me.
                hitlery was too big to fail
                obummer was too black to fail
                now joe is too far gone to fail?
                nope. done with excuses.

                Liked by 1 person

              6. he gets needles all the time I’m guessing.
                he needs to be stripped of all his possessions to make restitution for selling out he country first.
                maybe then…maybe…the needle.
                i wouldn’t give him an easy out

                Like

  22. https://news.gallup.com/poll/609914/women-become-liberal-men-mostly-stable.aspx

    Our Take: “I laughed when I read the stats on the rise in liberals dominating middle aged women. It’s statistical evidence that we actually have a Karen problem.

    A group of angry, middle aged, liberal women are unknowingly fostering a communist revolution.

    There are real dangers to this. Just look at fathers like Harrison Tinsley and Adam Vena, both dads who are now in drawn out legal battles with ex-wives that are attempting to transition their young sons. This is one of the results of liberalism being engineered into such extremes while it spreads across the female population.

    After reading these stats, the only thing I was left wondering was: How can we be strategic in using this data to win over more hearts and minds? Liberalism is being used to spread Neo-Marxism, but most of these middle aged women don’t likely understand they are fostering communism; many believe they are doing what is kind and virtuous.

    Forgetting those who are so ideologically captured they cannot be reasoned with, how can this growing population of Karens be reached? For those of us who understand the importance of local politics with an election looming, this may become strategically important information.” — Simon Esler

    Liked by 1 person

  24. this would prove interesting if true

    Winston
    February 9, 2024 9:16 am

    Not familiar with this site, so don’t know if this is true:

    Feb 8, 2024
    Tucker Carlson met Edward Snowden in Moscow

    https://www.semafor.com/article/02/08/2024/tucker-carlson-edward-snowden-tara-reade-moscow

    Tucker Carlson has kept a busy agenda in Moscow, meeting with two key American figures living in exile there.

    The former Fox News host met for hours Thursday with the NSA leaker Edward Snowden, Semafor has learned. While the former NSA whistleblower was a regular figure in the press in the years after he fled to Russia, he has largely receded from public appearances in recent years, citing the desire for wanted greater privacy for his family.

    The Snowden interview was not for Carlson’s video program, but he did tape an interview with Tara Reade, a former junior Senate aide who decades later accused President Joe Biden of sexual assault (an allegation he denied). Reade moved to Russia last year after several years of increasingly speaking out in support of pro-Russian policies. In 2022, the Russian delegation to the United Nations called her to speak in 2022 on “weapons diversion,” and hosted Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations on her YouTube channel. When she made her allegations in 2020, Carlson stood out on the right for his skepticism.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. IMO, not nearly enough name recognition….do you really think blacks even know who that is? Hell, I don’t even know who that is!!! LOL

      Liked by 1 person

  31. shutter these agencies

    T. Turtle

    T. Turtle

    February 9, 2024 10:48 am

    “OUTRAGEOUS! FBI Refuses to Turn Over Seth Rich Laptop – Is Still Hiding Its Contents from American Public Despite Court Order – And Now Makes Up Ridiculous Story to Prevent It’s Release”

    Excerpts:Ty Clevenger tweeted out a string of tweets on the latest tricks by the FBI. They are obviously hiding the truth from the American people Our FBI is sadly a rogue and lawless agency today.

    1. Seth Rich Update: The FBI is playing really dirty. In an attempt to avoid disclosure of Seth’s personal and work laptops, the agency has invented a new story.
    2. For the first time, the FBI is claiming that BOTH of Seth Rich’s laptops are relevant to the murder investigation, therefore they need to withhold them ENTIRELY.
    3. Also for the first time, the FBI claims that the personal laptop is relevant to the ongoing “Russian hacking” prosecutions (yeah, you just thought the Russian collusion hoax was over!)

    And there is more….

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/outrageous-fbi-refuses-turn-seth-rich-laptop-still/

    Like

  33. Liked by 1 person

  34. Well, now…we’ve got a nice brouhaha going on here over comments made by the School Superintendent about the girl’s wrestling team not having their own State tournament and joining the boy’s tournament, which is already terribly over-crowded. Granted, he was pretty blunt with some of the comments about the girls showing with their behavior that they aren’t in the same league with the boys, i.e., crying, complaining, constant calls for ice packs, etc., etc.

    Fact is, he’s right. But, of course, some dimwit Karen who isn’t even FROM Plainview gets on SM and starts bashing him, getting a BUNCH of parents all riled up. And, also of course, the School Board completely caved to the cry-babies and put him on a week’s unpaid leave, with possible additional consequences after their next meeting on the 12th. His current 2 year contract runs thru 2026.

    I was pleased to see 2 out of the 3 LTE’s submitted to this week’s paper were in favor of the Superintendent. OK, so he was a bit insensitive – hey, buck up, girls! If you want to play at the state level, you need to develop a thick hide and apply yourself appropriately! AND STOP YOUR DANGED WHINING!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  35. the thing about joe being a dementia candidate is the selling out he did of his offices from the get go. there has to be consequences for his co conspirators (jill, his brother and hunter and all other family members.)

    they all benefited from these documents being sold and brokered…

    i believe they are throwing joe under the bus to save the rest of the family

    Liked by 1 person

  38. what do we think of this?

    JimmyR

    February 9, 2024 1:14 pm

    Grenell just said on the radio that Michelle will not run because, among other things, she does not want her tax returns and sources of income reviewed. He said Newsom can’t win in swing states. Therefore, he said Gretchen Whitmer is more likely.

    Like

  39. Kansas legislature raking it in…93% pay raise in one year!

    FTA

    TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas is set to nearly double state legislators’ pay at the start of next year, making their compensation better than it is for their counterparts in a majority of states, including more populous ones like Georgia and Texas.

    The increase is nearly $28,000 a year for rank-and-file legislators, boosting their total compensation from $30,000 to nearly $58,000, an increase of 93%. Legislative leaders get additional payments because of their duties, and the House speaker and Senate president are set to make more than $85,000 a year, up from $44,000.

    https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/wireStory/kansas-lawmakers-allowing-93-pay-raise-effect-year-107051946

    Like

  44. Troublemaker10
    February 9, 2024 3:20 pm

    The Amish are getting registered to vote in PA!

    MY HEART SINGS! @NFormicaGOP just reported to me that 1 out of every 5 voters we’ve registered today has been Amish.

    There are 80,000 Amish in Pennsylvania — they have the power to literally save America.

    We are courting the Amish vote. pic.twitter.com/P2ksM8E1PP

    — #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) February 9, 2024

    Liked by 1 person

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  48. rare earths discovered in Wyoming

    Much of today’s high tech, for computer, automobile, communications and military applications, requires ingredients called rare earth minerals.

    They are not widely available and China, with an estimated 44 million metric tons of resources, has been the source for some 95% of those components used around the world.

    That makes the U.S. dependent on an unfriendly Communist regime for significant advances in its technology.

    But that could be changing, as a report in the Daily Mail reveals that a mining company has announced the discovery of “more than 2.34 billion metric tons” in Wyoming.

    “American Rare Earths Inc announced that the reserves near Wheatland dramatically surpass the Asian nation’s 44 million metric tons, saying it ‘exceeded our wildest dreams’ after drilling only about 25 percent of the property,” the report said.

    It explained the results come from the company’s stake in hundreds of mining claims across 6,320 acres of land in the Halleck Creek Project, in southeastern Wyoming not far from Nebraska and Colorado, as well as mineral leases on another 1,844 acres of the Cowboy State Mine.

    https://thelibertydaily.com/massive-discovery-rare-earths-wyoming-could-break-americas/

    Liked by 1 person

  49. “Guinness World Records on Thursday told Frenchman Richard Plaud that his 7.2 meter (23.6 feet) matchstick Eiffel Tower was a record height, a day after rejecting it for using the wrong matches.

    Plaud said he had been on an “emotional rollercoaster” this week, after spending 4,200 hours over eight years on building his model from more than 706,000 matches and 23 kilograms (51 pounds) of glue.

    “For eight years, I’ve always thought that I was building the tallest matchstick structure,” he told Reuters. However, Guinness World Records initially told him he didn’t make the cut as he hadn’t used matches that were “commercially available.”

    NF: I have no idea if this is fact…

    Liked by 1 person

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