If you look closely enough in a tree in China, India, Malaysia, or Indonesia, you could see an insect that is so adept at impersonating something she isn’t that she deserves an Oscar.
The Atlas moth, also known as Attacus atlas, wins the prize for the outstanding performer. This insect can shift from a delicate moth to a deadly cobra by just expanding its wings.
And she definitely acts the part: “The moth’s Cantonese name translates as snake’s head moth, because the tips of its wings look similar to the head of a deadly cobra,” writes the London Museum of Natural History. “When threatened, the moth will drop to the floor and writhe around, slowly flapping its wings to imitate snakehead and neck movements and scare away predators.”
Did you know that the Atlas moth defends itself by imitating a snake's appearance and behaviour. Along with its convincing wing patterns, the moth will fall to the ground when threatened and flap around to look like a writhing snake. pic.twitter.com/e5xVY3tLTU
— serçe (@_Malaika_a) November 5, 2021
The Atlas moth’s distinctive wings resemble the heads of two cobras when viewed from the side, a camouflage that serves to deter birds and other predators from hunting for an easy meal.
The Atlas moth is also one of the world’s biggest. The wingspan of a female moth may reach up to 10 inches, which is bigger than a human hand.
Her colossal stature may be one of the reasons she shares her name with Atlas, the Greek giant deity doomed to hold up the sky for all eternity.
Despite her remarkable concealment, the Atlas moth only lives for around two weeks on average. Her mouth is shut when she exits the hungry caterpillar stage. She can’t eat, therefore her primary goal is to reproduce and preserve her eggs.
Atlas Moth, one of the biggest moths in the World pic.twitter.com/oxGBoWBVfM
— 🕷Real (@DonaldFrump) November 12, 2021
But though this flying giant is only around for a short time, she certainly leaves an impression on everyone she meets.
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