“We
found the biggest and largest butterfly specie in the world!”, I
was very excited as i told the news to my mother and sister. It was
my sister who found the butterfly first when she gets the hanging
clothes outside in the pepper garden, then she called her son and our
mother to to look at it. When I arrived from school, they told me
the news and i was excited to see and study the new interesting
butterfly specie that visited us. As I Google the facts about the biggest butterfly in the world, similar
images are popping out on the screen. Great! This butterfly specie is
already documented.
Interesting Butterfly Wings
The
moment you see this butterfly, you will surely agree that this is
interesting. Aside from its over grown wings, the pattern is amazing.
If you look closely, the wings edge form a snake with a head! In fact,
its Cantonese name in Hongkong means a snake head moth. It is assumed
that this pattern is used by this butterfly to ward off predators.
Oops, did i say moth? Yes, it is commonly called as Atlas Moth. It is named as such due to the map pattern in the wings.
 |
| Snake head in the wings, Did you see it? |
Is it the Biggest Butterfly or Largest Moth?
Is
there a difference? Obviously, they are two different species
according to my biology teacher in High School. I searched the
difference between the two and found out that the wings of butterfly
tend to fold backward while the moth's wings movement exhibit less tendency.
The body anatomy between the two specie is different due to the
absent of frenulum in butterflies but present in moths. Most moths
are active at nighttime with some exemptions of other species, while butterflies flies at daytime. Plus, the cocoon made by moth has
a silk covering, but butterflies' cocoon is known as chrysalis and without silk covering.
The
interesting wing pattern and the wings of this creature is enough to
call this a moth. As a clarification, We are visited by the largest
moth specie!
No
matter what, this creature is beautiful, amazing, and interesting.
Don't you think?
Atlas, Largest Specie of Moth is Laying Eggs
Without
thorough examination, I assumed that its getting out from its cocoon.
I get a camera and proceed to take some photos. As I am taking
photographs, I noticed that the moth is not easily disturbed. I
thought its normal since it is still early in the afternoon and they
are more active at night, but I accidentally touched its wings but I
only observed a small movement like a giggle. I thought there is something wrong.
As i examined further, the atlas moth is not actually getting out from its
cocoon since it is already fully developed, instead its guarding the cocoon. I guess, the moth is laying eggs
on this brown fruit-like cocoon, which is made from dried pepper
leaves.
 |
| Knock! Knock! Who's there? |
However,
this is still disturbing and need to be validated since Atlas Moth
lays eggs under the leaf not in a cocoon, based on what i read. Other
than that, this atlas moth in the picture is actually a male since it
has an antennae. So, what does this male atlas moth doing in the
cocoon? Waiting for a female atlas moth to emerge? too early to
guess.
Largest Surface Area Size of Atlas Moth
Common
size of atlas moth varies according to its sex. Female atlas are
larger and heavier than the male moth. It's scientific name is
Attacus Atlas.
Atlas Moth Size published in the Internet:
Total
Wing Surface Area: 400 cm.2 or 62 in.2
Wing
Span: range is 8-11.5 inches or (203 to 290 mm)
Size of this Atlas Moth:
Wing Span: approximately 8 inches
 |
| Wing Span: approximately 8 inches |
Vertical Wing Length: Approximately 5 inches
 |
| Vertical Wing Length: Approximately 5 inches |
Philippine
Atlas Moth
This
Atlas Moth is found in Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines. As a native in the
area, I can say that this is not common in our place. On the other
hand, this is a good sign that they are comfortable in our town. If
only I can breed.
Atlas
Moth is common in Southeast Asia and in India. The silk secreted by
this moth is used in India, while Taiwan made purse out from its
cocoons. There are sightings in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and
the Philippines since this specie is widely distributed in the Malay archipelago.
 |
| Interesting Philippine Atlas Moth |
Although
it would be exciting to see many Atlas Moth flying, it poses some
threat to some plants like sour sop (guyabano), calamansi, lime ,
guava, rambutan, and pomelo. Now, I know why it's here. Three of
these plants is in our garden and these are it's favorite plant to
lay its eggs and of course, favorite food. Not to mention, they are a
voracious eater when still a young caterpillar. No worries when they
became a pupa and become a beautiful butterfly looking moth, they will not bite you.
0 comments:
Post a Comment