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.

The atlas moth has what appears to be a built-in method for scaring off predators; its wingtips look just like cobra snake heads.1 When the atlas moth is threatened, it slowly moves its wings to mimic a snake to ward off potential attackers. Since cobras are found in the same areas as the atlas moth, and because its main predators, birds and lizards, are visual hunters, it seems likely that this wing marking is an adaptation for survival.