The Atlas moth disguises
The Atlas moth isn’t an average-looking moth. What makes this moth special isn’t just its wingspan, which reaches 9.4 inches, but its ability to disguise as one of the greatest predators out there, the snakes.
Their wing pattern make them unique. The upper side of the wings are reddish brown with a patch of black, white, pink, and purple lines while the tips of both forewings have prominent extensions that resemble the head of a snake.
A number of these moths live in captivity, such as butterfly conservatories, where they are kept at separate feeding areas. “We don’t let them roam free in the exhibition because they eat so much. This allows them to build up fat reserves for the adult to live off. If we didn’t monitor their eating, we would have no plants left in the butterfly house, so we keep them in their own feeding area while they are growing,” Brown said, as per the Natural History Museum.
Habitat loss and deforestation pose threat to these insects’ existence but there are plenty of conservation efforts which are essential to their survival and their unique adaptation.
What do you think of these moths? Aren’t they stunning?
