Awesome Facts About The Giant Atlas Moth

The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) is one of the largest moth species in the world. Its massive wingspan is wider than a human hand. Itis native to tropical and forest habitats throughout Asia. The atlas moth has reddish-brown wings with triangular patterns outlined in black. This amazing moth also lacks the ability to eat and has an incredibly short lifespan. The most remarkable feature of atlas moths is the marking on the upper corner of their wings that eerily resembles a cobra head.

These moths are huge as Caterpillars. Two weeks after hatching, the atlas moth caterpillar feeds ravenously, first on its eggshell and then on its favorite leaves from citrus, guava, cinnamon, and Jamaican cherry trees, taking in enough food to last for its pupa and adult moth stages. Those caterpillars that live in captivity (such as in a butterfly conservatory) may be kept in a special feeding area to feast on privet, a type of flowering shrub, so as not to decimate other plants. The caterpillars can reach up to four and a half inches in length before they pupate. They spin a cocoon filled with bits of leaves and emerge after about a month as an enormous atlas moth.