When I first saw this, I was sure it was a snake and I was startled to the core! But when I took a closer look…

The Atlas moth isn’t an average-looking moth. What makes this moth special isn’t just its wingspan, which reaches 9.4 inches, but its ability to disguise as one of the greatest predators out there, the snakes.

These moths are endemic to the forests of Asia and were first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Their wing pattern make them unique. The upper side of the wings are reddish brown with a patch of black, white, pink, and purple lines while the tips of both forewings have prominent extensions that resemble the head of a snake.

“It is impossible not to be fascinated by the atlas moth. This is due to its beauty, the detail on its wings, and its sheer size at every stage of its life cycle,” says Luke Brown, manager of the Museum’s butterfly house, and as much as we learn about this unique species the more we agree with this statement.

Even as a caterpillar, the atlas moth is quite impressive. The larvae feed constantly, storing up for the pupal and adult stages. At the same time, it produces silk similar to the product created by domesticated silkworms.