Image: t_buchtele
Butterflies and moths belong to the order Lepidoptera, which is derived from the Greek words for "scaled wing." There are over 180,000 species in this order, only about 10 percent, however, are butterflies - the rest are moths. The first primitive moths evolved over 140 million years ago (butterflies, the belles of the ball, came fashionably late about 40 million years ago).
Moths are usually glossed over for butterflies, their "prettier, more attractive" cousins. But no more! Neatorama is setting the record straight: moths are truly awesome bugs! Here are some of the strangest and most beautiful moths of the world:
Brahmin Moth
Indonesian owl moth (Brahmaea hearsyi). Photo: Rittner Oz
Those who say moths aren't as beautiful obviously haven't seen the Owl or Brahmin moth family with lots of large, brown moths with intricately patterned wings.
Luna Moth
Luna Moth. Image: Paphio [Flickr]
True, most moths have drab colors, but this isn't the case with the gorgeous Luna Moth (Actias luna), which has large, shimmery lime-green wings with undulating "tails." Like some other moths (see below), the adult Luna moth does not have mouth and does not eat - it lives for only about one week, with the singular purpose of mating!
Hummingbird Hawkmoth
Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Image: janerc [Flickr]
The Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) looks like a hummingbird. It hums when it flies, hovers and feeds on flowers just like one, too - so it's easy to mistake one for a tiny bird!
Vampire Moth
Calyptra thalictri or vampire moth sucking blood.
Image: Helsingin Sanomat - via Treehugger
The Calyptra thalictri moth isn't all that peculiar looking - but its look is not why it's in this list: this "vampire moth" can pierce the skin and suck blood! If that's not strange enough, other species of Calyptra are known to suck tears from the eyelids of cattles.
Atlas Moth and White Witch
Atlas moth (Attacus atlas). Image: Gregory Phillips [wikipedia]
The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) is considered the world's largest moth by total wing surface area. The moth's cocoon is so large that it's used as a lucky charm in in Africa, pocket purses in Taiwan and ankle rattles in Mexico.
Large as it is, like the Luna moth, the adult Atlas moth has no mouth and cannot eat throughout its one to two weeks life (it does all its eating in the larva stage).
White witch moth (Thysania agrippina). Image: Stephane Larroque
In terms of wingspan, however, the white witch moth (Thysania agrippina or Giant aggrippina) is larger: fully stretched, its wingspan can be as wide as 12 inches (30.5 cm). When flying, this moth is usually mistaken as a bat!
Hornet Moth
Hornet moth (Sesia apiformis). Image: gorpie [Flickr]
Like its name implies, the Hornet Moth or Hornet Clearwing (Sesia apiformis) looks just like a hornet, but is completely harmless. It is as large as a real hornet and even has the same jerky flight-pattern when disturbed - a great example of mimicry!
Io Moth
Io moth. Image: Aliaaaaa [Flickr]
When threatened, the Io moths (Automeris io) will spread their wings to reveal a startling eyespot pattern, used to deter predators!
Io moth larva. Image: sarowen [Flickr]
The beautiful io moth larva is actually considered a pest - it eats the leaves of hundreds of plant species, and has venomous spikes that can be quite painful when handled. In a twist of fate, the ravenous larva grows up to be a beautiful adult moth that, like the Atlas moth, has no mouth so it cannot eat!
Leopard Moth
Giant Leopard moth. Image: normanack [Flickr]
The Giant Leopard Moth or Eyed Tiger Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) has a distinct pattern of black rings, reminiscent to those found in its namesake the leopard. The moth's unmistakeable colorings is aposematic, meaning that they are actually "advertising" the bug's unpalatability to potential predators.
White Plume Moth
White Plume Moth. Image: n_ila [Flickr]
Is that a large white mosquito? No, that's Pterophorus pentadactyla or the White Plume Moth. This moth is completely white and has a wing with the appearance of fine feathers. Unlike other moths that fold its wings when perched, the White Plume Moth holds its wings open in a T-shape.
Poplar Hawk Moth
Poplar Hawk Moth. Image: Michael Menzlaff [wikipedia]
The Poplar Hawk Moth (Laothoe populi) is one odd-looking moth. Its irregularly shaped wings enable it to camouflage itself in a cluster of dead leaves on its main host tree, the poplar.
If you disturb this moth, however, it will suddenly reveal a bright orange-red patch on the underside of its wings - as a distraction or startle display - before it flies away.
Death's Head Hawkmoth
Acherontia lachesis, a species of Death's Head Hawkmoth. Image: Trevor H [Flickr]
With a name like Death's Head Hawkmoths (Acherontia), they better be exceptional moths! Indeed, in addition to the unmistakeable skull pattern on the back, these moths can also produce a loud squeak when irritated!
A species of the Death's Head Hawkmoth, A. atropos, is probably the most popular moth in the world. It is displayed in the poster for the movie The Silence of the Lamb.
Other Moths
With some 160,000 species of moths in the world, I readily admit that this list is far from complete - If you think we've overlooked a particularly cool, strange, or beautiful moth, please leave a note (and link) in the comment section below.
So you could say that the Calyptra feeds on the sadness and misery of things.
@Monster - it's an EMOth. Har dee har har!
Much to my surprise that as it closed in for the kill, it made no noise whatsoever. Great, thinks I, they have developed stealth technology, my one early warning against impending peril has now been stripped away much like the peel of an orange. Or banana, if you will.
Still, it is a welcome addition to the gardens of Chez Tinfoil, and the distinct lack of razor-thin weapons "beaks" is all the more welcome. I will not have to run for bandages after coming into contact with them.
Point of note, the hummingbird moths that call the various flowering plants home (without paying rent, thank you very much) are of the clear-wing variety, which only adds to the veracity of their charade.
The Tomato Hornworm moth is also very interesting, and living in Tillsonburg (and yes, I do have the song memorized, and actually yes I am related to Tom), we have a number of "Tobacco" moths as well that can get really quite large.
We also get a lot of Polyphemus moths here. They're in the same family as the Luna, Io, and Atlas moths, and run about a five- to six-inch wingspread. Not as impressive as the Witch moth, but still makes you wonder if Tokyo's in trouble again!
--TwoDragons
oh. And katie? The photo doesnt do luna justice. In person, it's the most beautiful pastel lime color!
Alas, probably not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asp_%28caterpillar%29
Way back in the hazy past, growing up as a poverty-stricken kid whose mother line-dried our clothes, we dreaded Spring. Spring was Asp Season. You always checked for fat fuzzy caterpillars before you put on any of your clothes, lest you suffer some PAINFUL consequences! I'd have welcomed a dozen scorpion stings, over one Asp sting...
--TwoDragons
I managed to raise one once when I was about 11, as my mom thought the caterpillar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/unpredicable/189434979/ looks pretty much like the one I had) looked neat. Was kind of concerned though, because it was definitely in the cocoon for a good 6-8 months. I refused to get rid of it because I had a good feeling, and certainly wasn't disappointed ^^
i have never ever seen a moth like this like ever in my life ... any where i've ever traveled ...
r they like endangered or what .... ?
all the moths i have ever seen are so like plain ...
am i missing something here ... ???
There are quite a few amazing photo's on that site!
is the link for my comment
There is an additional moth that was featured in National Geographic mag and New Scientist called Hemiceratoides Hieroglyphica. Sucks tears from birds eyes.
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn10826
http://www.otariwiltonsbush.org.nz/uploads/images/Puriri%20moth%20009%20web.jpg
BRIGHT green, lives as a moth for 2 days after being a caterpillar for 5 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothra
http://www.butterflyutopia.com/BIG/163B.jpg
And another: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Chrysiridia_madagascarensis.JPG/800px-Chrysiridia_madagascarensis.JPG
So beautiful! Madagascar really is full of amazing animals! (:
It's amazing how much the Hummingbird and Hornet moth look like what they're mimicing!
I also remember when I caught, either a Cecropia or Asian Silk, moth on a night of fireworks in my town. I was still very young back then. Compared to the Luna Moth, though, it wasn't as dazzling.
It's a shame some moths don't live more than a few weeks. Usually it's most brilliant and dazzling of moths, too.
Oh! Rose Maple moth?! I've actually caught one before! Thier colours are so vibrant! They're a bit clashy and remind me of Trix yogurt! Haha!
Ah, yes. I miss seeing such beautiful and unique critters. I hardly ever get the chance to catch a common treefog now-a-days. ): And they're everywhere in my town! Croaking away and what-not. But the topic is about moths, not amphibians. xP The only moths i see now-a-days are plain and obnoxious. All they do is fly in our faces, lay thier eggs in any food my sister may have left open, and spawn, creating more vermins! As if our wasp problem was enough... (We also get quite a lot of spiders. Yeech! Gives me the chills just thinking of them! )
Thank you so much for posting these up. I'm almost left begging for more, though! Lol!
I took it home and took pictures of it. They turned out so detailed!
It was quite the siting! I even posted them on my deviantART account!
I've got one as well, it's rikaartistic.deviantart.com. My love for moths has actually gotten me to make two characters who are very moth-like. I've dubbed them Mottegiest. (German for Night Moth) I've based one off of the Blue Moth companion on WoW, and the other off of the Rosie Maple Moth. Unfortunately I made her pink in places she should be yellow. Dx
But I'd love to see those pics!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prodigi/2147138037
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prodigi/2147137495
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prodigi/2652022095
They awaken to light so I leave the TV on all night--and put the soapy water near it. I vacuum up LOTS during the day. they stay in my bedroom, but I don't know where they come from..My closet? Windows are not open and screens are tight. I find them behind furniture and indark spots. Where do they come from??? manyh thanks.
The rare Cloaked Pug (Eupithecia abietaria) was one of 34 species found by local moth enthusiast Malcolm Lindsay while running a National Moth Night event in conjunction with Buccleuch Ranger Service in the grounds of Bowhill House.
The Cloaked Pug was thought to have died out in the UK in the early 20th century. However in recent years a very few records of the species have been noted in large coniferous woodlands across the UK. This is only the second Borders record (the first was in 1981).
Thanks for this page. It's amazing.
I see these Hummningbird Hawkmoths every year around my butterfly bush, but they are tiny compared to the one in Colorado.
You have a nice selection of moths, especially the vampire moth.
we also get the gum emperor moth originally from aussie i think .the caterpillars make great pets- so exciting waiting for them to hatch. we had one hatch that damaged his wing so i used a drop of superglue on it. worked beautifully!bionic moth flying off into the night fantastic