Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Atlas Moth
Let us learn about one of the Largest Moths in the world with the shortest life span but a unique defensive appearance that lures the predators away.
Common name – Atlas Moth.
Scientific name – Attacus atlas
Size – wing size -24 cm.
The moth is among the Largest moths.
Habitat-
Atlas moth dwells in the habitat of Dry Tropical Forests, Shrublands.
Distribution-
This moth is found in the countries of South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, United States.
In what pattern does the Atlas moth appear that lure away its predators?
Atlas moth has large and broad antennae.
The upper side of the moth’s wing has White, Black, Pink, and Purple Patterns.
The underside of the wing is pale in colour.
This Moth carries a defence strategy in its appearance that can drive its predators away. The pattern on the top of the wings resembles the Head of a Snake.
They have a short proboscis (a straw-like organ present in some insects) as they only feed in the Larval stage.
What are the host plants they feed and dwell upon?
The Caterpillar of the Atlas Moth has their first meal of its Egg Shell. Later they feed on the heaves of the Host plant (plants on which the particular butterfly relies for their stages of the Life cycle such as Laying eggs, pupation, and feeding.).
Host plants of Atlas Moth are Citrus plants, Cinnamon, Guava, and some other evergreen Trees.
How do these largest moths pursue their mates and what are the different morphs (forms) of these moths?
Mating- Female Atlas moths are responsible for releasing the pheromones that are detected by the chemoreceptors (a chemical that detects the pheromones.) present in Male Atlas Moths. Males have the strategy of Homing. Homing is the ability of Insects, where they have a sharp memory about the territory they stayed in.
Hence even if they travel far away they are alerted by these signals from receptors even within the largest distance.
Female Moths always lay their eggs underside of the leaves of their host plants.
Caterpillars are white, and fleshy and have spines on their back. They feed on egg Shells and feed excessively on host plants.
Pupation is in the form of a papery cocoon which is made up of dry leaves attached to a twig. The adult emerged out of Pupa after 4 weeks.
Adults do not feed they used the stored energy preserved out of excessive eating in the caterpillar stage, hence adults have a small proboscis (a mouthpart of a Moth).
Female adults die after mating. The total life span of the Atlas Moth is of 2 weeks.
Also See ⇒ Ants Facts