And you thought moths were boring
National Moth Week shines the porch light on an unlikely hero. Unlike their showier cousins, butterflies, moths get a bad rap from time to time, and that’s fair, as caterpillars of some moth species are agricultural pests. But before you break out the mothballs, take a gander at winged wonders like the comet moth, shown here. Scientists estimate that there are some 160,000 species of moths worldwide, many just as stunning as our comet moth, and tracking their health often helps us gauge the health of entire ecosystems.
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Comet moth - Wikipedia
A female Comet moth (Argema mittrei) or ... - YouTube
Comet moth
| Comet Moth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Adult male | |
 | |
| Adult female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Saturniidae |
| Genus: | Argema |
| Species: | A. mittrei |
| Binomial name | |
| Argema mittrei (Guérin-Méneville, 1847)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The comet moth (Argema mittrei) or Madagascan moon moth[2] is an African moth, native to the rain forests of Madagascar. The male has a wingspan of twenty centimeters and a tail span of fifteen centimeters, making it one of the world's largest silk moths. The female lays from 120-170 eggs,[3] and after hatching the larvae feed on Eugenia and Weinmannia leaves for approximately two months before pupating.[4] The cocoon has numerous holes to keep the pupa from drowning in the daily rains of its natural habitat.[3] The adult moth cannot feed and only lives for 4 to 5 days.[3] Although endangered in the wild due to habitat loss, the Comet moth is being successfully bred in captivity.[3]
In its natural habit larvae feed on Weinmania eriocampa, Uapaca sp., Eugenia cuneifolia and Sclerocarya caffra
Substitution plants are also Rhus cotinus, Eucalyptus gunnii, Pistacia terebinthus, Pistacia lentiscus, Rhus copallina, Rhus laurina, Rhus toxicodendron, Rhus typhina, Schinus molle, Schinus terebinthifolius, Mimosa sp. and Liquidambar styraciflua.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ www.afromoths.net
- ^ "Comet moth". The Magic of Life Butterfly House. Aberystwyth: The Magic of Life Trust. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d Rollison, Emily; Thackston, James (2003). "Argema mittrei". Clemson University Arthropod collextion. Clemson University. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ Anon. "Madagascan Comet Moth". Heart of England butterflies. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ papillon-comete-de-madagascar
- ^ www.madagascar-library.com
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