The Atlas moth is the rarest and largest moth in the world, with a wingspan of up to 27 cm (10.63 in), which is much larger than a human’s hand span.The caterpillars of this species reach a length of up to 12 cm (4.72 in), spending every free second eating food. Experts claim it is impossible not to be amazed by the formidable size and beauty of the atlas moth.The delicate wings of this species have amazing patterns in different shades of brown, and at every stage of its life cycle, it grows much faster than average moths. It is not clearly mentioned where the name ‘atlas’ comes from but it could be in reference to its large size (Atlas was a giant according to Greek mythology). Or, maybe it’s because of the wing pattern that this insect species shows.The feeding pattern for an Atlas moth is peculiar. As a caterpillar, the moths are 5 in (12.7 cm) long and feed on citrus fruits, guava, and cinnamon leaves almost every second. Before entering the cocoon, they must consume enough food to not only sustain themselves through the pupa period for up to a month but also to sustain themselves in the adult stage. Adult Atlas moths do not eat at all and they remain dependent on the food they consumed in the young stages of their lives. They only fly out to search for a mate in the night. Therefore, they can only live for one to two weeks after spreading their wings.Such a magnificent creature has such a short life span! In this short period of time, the moths spend most of the time maintaining energy levels with the limited amount of food that they eat, and they look for a mate at night. Then they lay eggs, and once they are out of food resources, they die.Which is the largest moth in Australia?A giant wood moth with a wingspan of 25 cm (9.8 in) was found in a school near the tropical rainforest of Queensland. As per reports of the Queensland Museum, other giant wood moths have been found on the coast of Queensland and New South Wales. Females can weigh up to 1.05 lb (30 g) and also have a wingspan of about 25 cm (9.8 in). Males reach only half of that size. Their life cycle is extremely short, and the life span of an adult is only a few days. Immediately after mating and laying eggs, they die.The larvae of certain species of wood moth are called witchetty grubs, (a delicacy for the Aborigines) and they burrow into the smooth eucalyptus tree bark. As they grow, the width of the tunnel left in the bark increases. Before becoming moths, they may spend up to a year in the tree. The newly emerged little caterpillars use silk thread to lower themselves to the ground, and it is thought that they feed on plant roots. As adults, they cannot eat and can only live for a few days. The heavy female lays about 20,000 small eggs before dying.How big can atlas moths get?The Atlas moth is one of the largest and most rare moths in the world. The caterpillar can grow to 11.5 cm (4.52 in) and the adult has a wingspan of 25-28 cm (9.8-11.02 in). It has one of the largest wing-surface areas of all Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), approximately 62 sq in (400 sq cm).What are huge moths called?The names of the world’s largest moths are divided into two different species: Atlas moths (Attacus atlas) and the white witch moths (Thysania agrippina). The latter is also known as the great owl moth. The adult female Atlas moth, native to Asia and Australia, has a wingspan of up to 1 ft (30.4 cm) and has the largest wing surface area. According to reports, the wingspan of the great owl is usually just over 11 in (27.94 cm), although some reports have it over 12 in (30.48 cm).One of the biggest moths in North America is the Hyalophora cecropia, which belongs to the family Saturniidae. The wingspan of a female Hyalophora is between five to seven in (12.7-17.78 cm), which is quite impressive!Which are the rarest moths?Here are some of the rarest moths found in the world:The Atlas Moth: It may be the largest moth in the world, but it is also on the verge of extinction due to the collectors who trap these moths, kill them and pin them to grace their insect collections. Although conservation work is underway, the future of this large species does not look good and may rely on captive breeding to increase its population.The Madagascan Sunset Moth: This is another moth that is highly toxic to other animals because it eats plants like a caterpillar. But, it is also one of the only daytime moths in the world and is easily caught by collectors. There are currently no protection measures to save this rare species.The Garden Tiger Moth: This moth is only found in a small valley in Pennsylvania and is considered to be one of the rarest moths in the world. It is a protected species and efforts are being made to protect it and increase its population. These are thought to be endemic to America.A combination of pesticide use, habitat loss, climate change, and many other different reasons varying from species to species is endangering many moth species. Although these species of moths and butterflies are endangered, the measures taken in protecting them are minuscule and disturbing.We need to spread awareness regarding how important these insects are to the ecosystem, and that we need to take some serious measures to protect these unique creatures from endangerment or extinction.
The Atlas moth is the rarest and largest moth in the world, with a wingspan of up to 27 cm (10.63 in), which is much larger than a human’s hand span.
