It is a huge insect and one of the largest moths in the world: the atlas moth can have a wingspan of up to 30 centimeters. They are about as wide as those of a small blackbird. And so the impressive moth has the largest wings of all butterflies.
Actually, atlas moths are mainly found in Southeast Asia, where they live in tropical and subtropical forests. Authorities in the US state of Washington have now sounded the alarm when entomologists document one such animal near Lake Washington.
Atlas moths cannot be kept in the United States without a permit—a free-ranging animal could allow the insect to spread.
The authorities are still assuming a single specimen, but are asking the population to report other sightings of atlas moths.
“Usually that’s a tropical moth. We’re not sure if it can survive here,” says entomologist Sven Spichiger.
“We’re hoping local residents will help us figure out if the butterfly is a one-off escape from an animal, or if there really are more than one in the area.”
The life of the hatched butterfly lasts only a few days. It cannot eat and lives off the reserves it ate up as a caterpillar. The moth must mate and lay eggs within four to five days. The wings of the animals, which are reminiscent of small snake heads and are supposed to keep predators at bay, are also interesting.
In Germany, the insects can be observed in selected butterfly farms.
Source: USAToday