It is so named because its wing patterns resemble maps. The Atlas Moth's
wings have triangular transparent "windows" whose purpose we don't
know. The wing tips are hooked and some say resemble a snake's head complete
with eye, to scare off predators.
The Atlas Moth has the largest wing surface area of all moths (but
not the longest wings, see below).
and wetland wildlife at
Sungei Buloh Nature Park
wings 25-30cm across.
Status in Singapore: Common.
distribution: Asia and Southeast Asia.
Classification: Family Saturniidae
(Silkworm Moths). This family has the largest moths with
Female Atlas Moths attract males by secreting a pheromone through
a gland at the end of the abdomen. The male Atlas Moths has huge long feathery
antennae to track down the female by her pheromones. The females are much
larger than the males and don't have feathery antennae.
Moth eggs are laid on the underside of a leaf. They hatch in 8-14 days depending
on the temperature. The caterpillars are bluish green with large bumps on
them, and covered with a fine white powder.
caterpillars eat a wide variety of foodplants and may even wander from one
to another. Their foodplants include the Jamaican
Cherry Tree (Muntingia calabura), soursop, cinnamon, lime, pomelo,
rambutan, guava, citrus fruits.
The Atlas Moth's pupae is encased in a silken cocoon. The pupal stage of
the Atlas Moth lasts about 4 weeks.
Adult Atlas Moths don't eat at all throughout their adult life which lasts
for about two weeks. An adult Atlast Moth doesn't even have a mouth and
lives off fat reserves built up when it was a caterpillar. The adults quickly
mate, lay eggs, and die shortly thereafter.
Atlas Moths are found only in Southeast Asia. They are common in Singapore,
especially in November-January, although they are found throughout the year.
Role in the habitat: Atlas Moth caterpillars
are preyed upon by other creatures.
While the Silkworm Moth (Bombyx mori, which belongs to a different
but related family) which makes its cocoon out of one unbroken silk
strand, the Atlas Moth caterpillar makes it out of broken strands
of silk. Nevertheless, Atlas Moth cocoons are used to make a durable
silk called Fagara Silk, in northern India. In Taiwan, their cocoons
are made into pocket purses!
The Giant Silkworm Moth (Coscinocera hercules) has a wing surface
area that rivals the Atlas Moth's. The Queen Alexandra Birdwing (Ornithoptera
alexandrae) found in Papua New Guinea. Females are larger than
males and can reach 28cm across and weigh more than 25g. The Hercules
Moth (Cosdinoscera hercules) from Australia and Papua New Guinea
is also 28cm. The Owlet Moth (Thysania agrippina) of tropical
Americas can reach 30cm.
Silkmoths of Northeastern North America by Bill Oehlke: stunning
photos of all stages with info on their behaviour and lifecycle, including
the gorgeous Luna Moth and Io Moth.
Henninger's page on moths has a fabulous photos and some info on
the Atlas Moth, and lots more on other magical moths.
Butterflies on EnchantedLearning.com: about the giants of butterflies
of the Insect World by John R Meyer, Dept of Entomology, NC State
Cocoon Artifacts by Richard S. Peigler on BugBios, Cultural Entomology:
In Taiwan, pocket purses are made from cocoons of Attacus atlas.