#largest lepidopteran

[ranticore]

i remind myself why i rarely ever drew nettlerove even tho he's consistently one of my faves ever. afaik he's never even been on this blog in adult form

anywayss i thought i'd try it again and it's as painful as ever. i obviously had less of a focus on realism for his staphylinid species Cryptostenus oculatus. But they have an interesting life cycle, being brood parasites on communal lepidopterans. these huge beetles sneak their eggs among the eggs of the butterflies. the larvae strongly resemble caterpillars and benefit from a cushy colony life until their caterpillar peers are ready to pupate. Cryptostenus remains a larva while the caterpillars pupate, allowing it to go mask off predator for the first time in its life (a very confusing and horrifying moment for them) and feast on its caterpillar siblings in their most helpless state. next spring, what emerges from the colony's pupation chamber will not be a new generation of butterflies, but one very large beetle.

Crytpostenus are flightless in their adult forms but excellent climbers, able to squeeze into deceptively small gaps despite their large size. As adults they are largely solitary (and many do not believe they are anything but extra fucked up butterflies, if they never manage to meet another of their species). Back home in Thera, they are rarely ever seen by others, spending much of their time hunting in caves or, in the case of oculatus, disguised among tithe tree flowers, which they mimic. The glands on their labium (the "chin" part of the face) secrete a sticky substance, and like some irl beetles in the Stenus genus, they can rapidly extend their labium, using the sticky substance to grab prey before reeling it into the mandibles.

Nettlerove never did manage to meet another member of his kind. As a caterpillar he crossed the Houndstooth mountains unwillingly (in the claws of a dragonfly) and almost died. He was found by a human expeditioneer called Dara, who took him home to Earth (illegally not informing the relevant authorities) to patch up his wounds. Dara saw a moneymaking opportunity in Nettlerove, realising that this caterpillar guy could easily travel the narrow tunnels in the empty city, scouting ahead for his team. But Dara pushed Nettlerove too hard, ignoring his objections and claustrophobia, handling him roughly and with zero concern for him, until finally Nettle got outta there. He made it home to the colony just in time to pupate and murder all of his siblings, following a natural drive he didn't know lay within him.

Believing that he was irrevocably a monster and worthy of nothing but the worst possible treatment, Nettlerove went back to Dara, who was horrible but at least wanted him. For the next eight years Nettlerove was Dara's hitman, for lack of a better term. He was the largest insect to ever make it to Earth, and most humans had no idea Dara had such a monster lying in wait. With Nettlerove's help, Dara was able to gain a controlling stake in one of the critical entrances of the empty city.

^ older design but that's an accurate size comparison w/ Dara

[billionneuronscurious]

Mating of The Largest Moth species of India - Atlas Moth. Also one of the largest moths in the world, a beautiful lepidopteran species.

Those who love nature and wildlife often remain disappointed about the creatures and life they haven't been able to witness so far, and so was I. One such species, which I didn't come across (until yesterday) in a living state (I have seen its specimen previously) was this moth.

But, what a sight to behold it was. I got to see not one but two individuals of it, and their mating.

We were heading towards Kalu waterfall (Malshej Ghat). It was raining continuously. And just beside the pathway, from which some 250-300 tourists must have passed (to and fro) on that day, I was able to spot these two (and I indeed take a pride in it). They must have been in this state for more than one and half hour, at least, I saw them at the same spot while returning, too. 

- Dhairyasheel Dayal

[sarsaparillaart]

"Despite their beauty, these creatures are predators and one of the most common disease carriers in the Warrens."

— from A Cityfolk's Guide to the Mud

Swordtember 27 — Insect

Though they are often nicknamed "mosquito-moths" the approach that the barbermoth takes to hematophagy is quite different from the common bloodsucker. Instead of penetrating the skin using their proboscis, the moth instead relies on their highly derived forelimbs to lacerate the skin and produce small droplets of blood for consumption.

The forelimbs of barbermoths differ greatly from most lepidopterans in a number of ways. They are typically larger than that of their peers and have a specialized tarsus covered in saw-like protrusions. The moth uses these blades to gently saw into their prey at night. The blades are sharp enough to penetrate the skin without alerting the animal that the moth is there. Often it isn't until much later on that the prey (human or otherwise) realizes they're covered in small (but suprisingly deep) cuts; the telltale sign of a hungry moth.

The clade is relatively small, containing only a dozen or so species, but the diversity within that number is notable. The largest barbermoths can have a wingspan of up to 8 inches, whereas the smallest scarcely reach a quarter inch.

Most species are limited to the Mudwarrens, but there are a few extant in Northern Diyar and a single known species that resides in the Pentapolitan Region.

[magicicapra]

‘who has a pelagornis for their rez buddy’ savathun obviously.

SCARY! one one hand i think it would be cool if all the hive ghosts were different kinds of lepidopterans and savvy had (maybe specifically a white witch????? huh??? huh??? largest wingspan of any moth AND thematically appropriate name???) but also the idea of her being like. "welcome guardian. you are too late lol" and watching a bird the side of a pickup truck swoop onto her spiky shoulder is very good. plus also i want said bird to bully me over comms that would be funny too

[researchyblog]

Monosultap Market Size, Trends, and Growth Forecast to 2025

Monosultap market, is an insecticide primarily used in agriculture to control pests in crops such as rice, vegetables, and fruits. It functions as a competitive inhibitor of acetylcholine, exhibiting strong contact, stomach toxicity, and systemic conduction effects, making it effective against lepidopteran larvae.

Get free sample copy @ https://www.statsandresearch.com/request-sample/34301-global-monosultap-market

Market Overview

As of 2023, the global monosultap market was valued at approximately USD 100 million and is projected to reach USD 200 million by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.05% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031.

Key Market Drivers

Agricultural Demand: The need for effective pest control solutions in agriculture drives the demand for monosultap, especially in regions with intensive farming practices.

Pest Resistance Management: Monosultap's efficacy against specific pests makes it a valuable tool in integrated pest management strategies.

Challenges

Regulatory Hurdles: Stringent environmental and safety regulations can impact the production and application of chemical insecticides like monosultap.

Availability of Substitutes: The presence of alternative pest control methods and products may affect market growth.

Regional Insights

The monosultap market is geographically diverse, with key regions including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Each region has unique market dynamics, regulatory environments, and agricultural practices. Asia-Pacific is the largest and fastest-growing market for monosultap, driven by extensive agriculture in countries such as China, India, and Southeast Asian nations.

Get full report @ https://www.statsandresearch.com/report/34301-global-monosultap-market/

Key Players

Prominent companies in the monosultap market include:

Bayer CropScience AG

Syngenta AG

BASF SE

Corteva Agriscience

FMC Corporation

UPL Limited

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

Nufarm Limited

ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd.

Valent BioSciences Corporation

These companies compete on factors such as product quality, efficacy, safety, environmental sustainability, pricing, distribution networks, and customer service. Strategic initiatives like product launches, acquisitions, partnerships, and investments in research and development are common as players seek to gain a competitive edge and expand their market presence.

Market Segmentation

The monosultap market can be segmented based on various factors, including:

Type of Formulation: Liquid, granular, powder.

Application Method: Spraying, drenching, soil application.

Crop Type: Cereals, fruits, vegetables, cotton, soybeans.

Pest Type: Insects, mites, nematodes.

Geography: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa.

Each segment has unique characteristics, requirements, and growth drivers, offering opportunities for manufacturers and suppliers to target specific market segments and address the evolving needs and preferences of farmers and consumers.

Get enquiry before buying @ https://www.statsandresearch.com/enquire-before/34301-global-monosultap-market

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[qqri]

Key Trends in Chilli Farming

In this Issue

Celebrating a significant milestone, this edition commemorates five years of our Q-AgriPulse Chilli Panel syndicate research. Originating in 2019 with 1000 chilli farmers spanning 10 districts across India, our panel reached its five-year mark in Kharif 2023.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all our clients and partners whose unwavering support has fueled our journey. This newsletter serves as a heartfelt token of appreciation, offering insights into key trends observed among chilli farmers over the past five years.

Overview of the Chilli Market

India is the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices, the country produces about 75 of the 109 varieties and accounts for half of the global trading in spices.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the export of spices from India in 2020-21 touched USD $4 billion mark attaining an all -time high, recording a 30% increase in volume, 23% increase in rupee terms and 17% in dollar terms compared to the previous year.

Chilli holds the lion’s share of spice export from India, amounting to $1.50 billion which accounts for about 34 per cent of India’s total spices exports during 2023-24. Andhra Pradesh was the largest producer of chillies in the fiscal year 2023 among other states across India. The production volume amounted to over 627 thousand metric tons that year. This was followed by Telangana and Madhya Pradesh. India produced about two million metric tons of chili during that year.

Key trends in the crop protection category

Kharif 2023 was a year which saw high incidence of all major sucking insects. However a drop was seen in lepidopteran pest incidence. Thrips, Black Thrips and Whitefly incidence was reported by over 90% of the chilli growers in the 50-130 DAT window.

Black thrips continues to be a concern for farmers with growers spending approx. INR 7500-8000/acre in a season for its control. Currently high value G30 molecules viz Broflanilide, Fluxametamide, Tolfenpyrad are majorly used. In addition, Cyantraniliprole, Spinetoram, Fipronil are also used.

Thrips continues to be a concern to the chilli growers. Molecules like Fipronil and its combination, Cyantraniliprole, Spinetoram, Monocrotophos, Broflanilide are commonly used. At present farmer is spending INR 5500-5800/acre on its control

Despite the rise in insect incidence, the overall insecticide applications declined, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Farmers, anticipating poor yields due to adverse weather conditions and high infestation levels, were reluctant to invest in crop protection, leading to reduced applications during the later stages of the season.

On an average growers are making 4 applications of Fungicides and AP saw  a decline in fungicide usage, where major molecules Carbendazim +Mancozeb and combinations of Azoxystrobin saw a decline in PAT share.  The per acre spend on fungicides is approx.is INR 2200-2600/-

PGR and Biostimulants saw an increase of 15% by application number. The key driver here being protection of the plant health or to prevent flower drop or better fruit quality which could be due to higher incidence of insects this year, especially Black thrips impacting the 80-130 DAT period.

The Economics Of Chilli Cultivation

Over the past five years, chilli farmers have observed a consistent uptrend in the cost of cultivating chilli, with overall expenditure registering a robust 5.4% CAGR

Chilli, once considered a cash crop, has not been profitable for growers in recent years. Over the past five years, profitability from chilli cultivation has generally declined, with the most significant drop occurring in 2021. The primary reasons for this decline include the emergence of the invasive pest “Black Thrip,” a rise in other insect infestations, and unseasonal rains. These factors have collectively reduced yields by 8-9% annually.

Kharif 2023 too, was tough for chilli growers. Unseasonal rains and high insect infestations reduced both yield and quality. As a result, prices fell by 10-15% due to lower demand from traders, who blamed the poor quality of the crop.

The data of cultivation costs collected over a 5 year period reveals that chilli growers are incrementally spending 7.5% higher each year on crop protection products.

Digitalization of Chilli farming

The penetration (i.e. access to) of smartphones among chilli farmers has surged impressively, catapulting from 52% in 2019 to a remarkable 90% in 2023, reflecting an astounding 11. 6% CAGR.

AP and Telangana are the top 2 states with higher smartphone accessibility amongst chilli farmers.

Surge in usage for digital payment apps like Paytm, BHIM, Google Pay etc. and  strong growth seen from 4% in 2019 to 49% in 2023.

If you found this newsletter helpful, feel free to share it with your colleagues and your broader network.

WHAT NEXT??

The detailed chilli report including Kharif 2023 data and past trends is now available. Read more to deep dive into pest incidence, brand shares and movements, detailed farmer ROI and profitability and more.

Companies mentioned in the report

Resource Link: https://qqri.com/2024/11/29/key-trends-in-chilli-farming/

[spiritstein]

What Is Your Favorite Blug

god there's too many bugs to just pick A Favorite!!! so here's a list of some that come to mind as particularly good bugs (under a readmore because i'm very very autistic) i'll stick to true insects here because if i included spiders and myriapods i'd be here all night

lepidopterans were what made me start loving bugs as a kid and they're still very dear to me now. my favorite when i was little was the blue morpho (morpho menelaus, i have a preserved one and these guys are SO shiny no photo can truly do them justice) but my current #1 lepidopteran would have to be the cecropia moth (hyalophora cecropia, largest moth in north america! also just look at that widdle face)

it's impossible to go wrong with the humble beetle but some that stick out to me are stag beetles (family lucanidae, super hard to id to species) and weevils (superfamily curculionoidea, the ones here are the giraffe and acorn weevils)

cicadas and roaches both get flack for being just noisy or just pests but they are still both important to their environments and can be very pretty as well. this guy (huechys sanguinea) is probably my favorite cicada as it's very much a bug after my own heart and the emerald cockroach (corydidarum magnifica) is probably one of your best contenders if you want to prove to someone that roaches can be pretty

honorable mentions to the giant wētā (genus deinacrida) for being So God Damn Big and praying mantises in general because i think they are very cool but am not well versed enough with them to have a spotlight species aside from orchid mantises which i'm pretty sure everyone knows about

tldr: impossible question there are millions if not billions of species of insects and we discover new ones all the time, how can i choose just one with so many options???

[ecuadorlife]

Giant Moth, White Witch, Thysania agrippina by Andreas Kay Via Flickr: from Ecuador: www.youtube.com/AndreasKay

[ex0skeletal-undead]

Hello! I want to draw a moth oc in the style of cuphead and was wandering if you have any moths to recommend me? A white one and one of your own color choice would be good!

BOY DO I. May I suggest the white plume moth, Pterophorus pentadactyla, because they are tiny and beautiful and look like fairies. If you don't want it to be ALL white, I'm a big fan of the sagebrush sheep moth, Hemileuca hera. Also love love love the white witch, Thysania agrippina, which has the largest wingspan of any moth in the world, although they are more sorta light beige and brown than white.

If I were gonna choose a moth to base an OC around personally I might go with the princely tiger moth, Chrysocale principalis, which has some wild colors. Or maybe the Chinese moon moth, Actias dubernardi, which is so pretty it looks fake, or possibly the comet moth, Argema mittrei. Or maybe the oleander hawkmoth, Daphnis neri, which has beautiful shades of green. Wallich’s owl moth, Brahmaea wallichii, has some really cool patterns you could work with. If you wanted to get wild and base it on a caterpillar instead of an adult moth, I would recommend Citheronia phoronea, which looks like a weird spiny goth.

If none of these do it for you, I’d check out photos on inat of lepidopterans here. You can filter by family if you’re particularly into a certain type of moth :)

[dailylepidopterans]

todays daily lepidopteran is the cecropia moth [Hyalophora cecropia]!

did you know? the cecropia moth is the largest moth species in north america with a wingspan of five to seven inches!

[photo credit: Donna Brunet, John H. Grent]

[butterflyoftheday]

The Comet Moth Today’s lovely lepidopteran is the comet moth. Sometimes called the Madagascan moon moth, or Argema mittrei, this handsome fellow is one of the largest giant silk moths. The males have a wingspan of 7.9 inches and a tailspan that is arguably even more impressive at a whopping 5.9 inches. The females are larger than the males, but they have shorter, thicker tails (although no less beautiful!). As with other giant silk moths, the adults emerge into the world without a mouth and cannot feed, so they only live for a short period of time. Adult comet moths only live for 4 to 5 days, which might make them tricky to spot in the wild. This moth is indigenous to the rain forests of Madagascar and is endangered in the wild, but it has been bred in captivity.

 This moth was a request from River. Hi, River!

Image Source: Bernard Dupont. 8 October 2004. Feon'ny Ala Hotel, Perinet Reserve, Madagascar.

[billionneuronscurious]

Mating of The Largest Moth species of India - Atlas Moth. Also one of the largest moths in the world, a beautiful lepidopteran species.

Those who love nature and wildlife often remain disappointed about the creatures and life they haven't been able to witness so far, and so was I. One such species, which I didn't come across (until yesterday) in a living state (I have seen its specimen previously) was this moth.

But, what a sight to behold it was. I got to see not one but two individuals of it, and their mating.

We were heading towards Kalu waterfall (Malshej Ghat). It was raining continuously. And just beside the pathway, from which some 250-300 tourists must have passed (to and fro) on that day, I was able to spot these two (and I indeed take a pride in it). They must have been in this state for more than one and half hour, at least, I saw them at the same spot while returning, too. 

- Dhairyasheel Dayal

[alphynix]

Did you know butterflies weren’t the first insects to look like butterflies?

Lepidopterans (the group of insects containing moths and butterflies) have been around since the Late Triassic -- but it wasn’t until the diversification of flowering plants during the Cretaceous that recognizable moths would have evolved, and true butterflies didn’t actually appear until the early Cenozoic.

Before then, back in the mid-Jurassic about 165 million years ago, a completely different group of insects convergently evolved remarkably butterfly-like features such as large colorful scaled wings and long sucking proboscises.

Known as the kalligrammatids, these insects were giant members of the lacewing group, related to modern forms like antlions and owlflies. But unlike their predatory relatives the kalligrammatids were specialized pollinators, possibly having a mutualistic relationship with the flower-like cones of bennettitales or the pollination drops of some types of conifers. They seem to have originated in China and were found across Asia and Europe by the Late Jurassic, but a few fossils from South America suggest they were even more widespread and may just have a poor fossil record.

They reached wingspans of up to 16cm (~6″), comparable to some of the largest modern butterflies, and often sported conspicuous anti-predator markings on their wings such as stripes and eyespots -- so it’s not surprising that they’re often nicknamed the “butterflies of the Jurassic”.

Rather ironically, the extinction of the kalligrammatids was probably linked to the rise of the flowering plants that the true butterflies would later be so dependent on. As flowers diversified and plants like the bennettitales declined, the kalligrammatids dwindled and disappeared, with the last known fossil record coming from the mid-Cretaceous of Brazil about 113 million years ago.

But while they were around, I do wonder if they also exhibited some similar behaviors -- such as mud-puddling for extra nutrients, and specifically the habit of drinking the tears of larger animals that we see in some species. Perhaps some non-avian dinosaurs like this Dilong occasionally put up with kalligrammatids sitting on their faces!

---------

Tumblr | Pillowfort | Twitter | Patreon

[arthistorydaily]

Attacus Atlas moth, unknown artist, India, ca. 1610

RIJKS Amsterdam

Provenance: donated by P. Formijne in 1993

h 180 mm × w 119 mm

Attacus atlas, the Atlas moth, is a large saturniid moth endemic to the forests of Asia. The species was first described by in Europe by Carl Linnaeus in his  10th edition of Systema Naturae which was published in 1758.

The Atlas moth is one of the largest lepidopterans with a wingspan measuring up to 24 cm (9.4 in) and a wing surface area of about 160 cm2 (~25 in2).

The atlas moth has no mouth, every flight takes valuable energy and can take days off their already short lives, as it has a very short life span of only one to two weeks.

[text source: @wikipedia]

[sinobug]

MOTHS - Family Sphingidae (Hawk Moths) The Sphingidae are amongst the largest, most easily recognised, and best known Lepidopterans. They are known variably as "hawk", "sphinx", "hummingbird" or "hornworm" moths. Adults are medium- to very-large-sized, having a stout body with the abdomen typically tapering posteriorly. The forewing is narrow and hindwing relatively short, giving the moths a very streamlined profile. The proboscis usually is well developed, sometimes much longer than the body, and used to imbibe nectar while hovering in flight, hummingbird-style, and in some habitats sphingids have significant roles in pollination. Most are nocturnal, extremely strong fliers, amongst the fastest insects, and several are well-known long-distance migrants. Some genera are diurnal, and a few resemble bees. The often polymorphic (occurring typically in green and brown forms, but also yellows and reds) larvae are equally recognisable (in most cases) owing to a caudal horn or button. Many species exhibit eyespot and predator mimicry defensive strategies. Pupation usually occurs without a cocoon, in soil or ground litter. There are around 1450 described species in about 200 genera, distributed worldwide, but best represented in the tropics. (text adapted from Encyclopedia of Insects (Second Edition), Jerry A. Powell, 2009) Collage images from Pu'er, Yunnan, China You can browse all of the Sphingid moth images in my Flickr photostream HERE... by Sinobug (itchydogimages) on Flickr. Pu'er, Yunnan, China See more Chinese butterflies and moths, pupae and their larvae on my Flickr site HERE.....

[iamthekaijuking]

Legendary Mothra Biological Analysis

I’m basing this analysis on the Mothra figures, so they may not be accurate. Also I’m not an expert on arthropods (or an actual expert on anything because I’m only 17).

Mothra’s monarch file doesn’t state much besides her bioluminescence and part of the natural order. So this will mostly be about her morphology. But let’s start with her power first.

Mothra’s thorax can emit beta waves (electricity from the brain) that can activate bioluminescent patterns oh her wings. Insects have ganglia across their bodies, and the largest are in their thorax. Ganglia are kind of like second brains that help process and transmit information. So Mothra’s ganglia can transmit powerful signals to her wings that can activate specialized cells that can generate luminescence. I’m not sure how she can refine it into a ‘god ray’ but maybe the scales on her wings act as mirrors that can direct the light.

Now onto her morphology.

Mothra’s larval form is different from the little toilet log we all know and love. Her larval form is decked out in heavy chitinous plating. She has a short abdomen (for a caterpillar, which normally have abdomens that take up most of their body) with only six pseudopods. Most of her body is actually taken up by her thorax, which also stands upright. Now I can’t really tell if she has six legs or eight in her larval form. They could just be another pair of pseudopods, but if those are legs then that’s incredibly unusual, because Mothra is explicitly stated in her file to be a lepidopteran. AKA a moth (butterflies also are lepidopterans but they’re a family of derived moths so they technically count) and thus an insect. Insects only have six legs (although technically antennae and some mouthparts are derived from legs) so if Mothra’s larvae has eight legs then that’s incredibly unusual. Maybe her kind have a weird mutation where one of the leg pairs were duplicated in their larval form? Or maybe it’s exclusive to this specific Mothra and is not natural for her kind.

Again though, they could be pseudopods.

Now for her imago form.

Starting off with her head we can already see that her anatomy is ever so subtlety weird. Mothra has eyelids. No I’m serious, you can see them move during the close-up of her very menacing face during the trailer. But, if Mothra's limbs are all scythes that have no cleaning fuzz then I guess that's a necessary adaptation for cleaning her eyes. Something that big moving that fast is going to accidentally get some creatures splattered on her eyes. Mothra’s mouth is also equally weird. She seems to only have one pair of palps and her labium and labrum are either vestigial or completely absent (the bottom palps are attached to the labium so that probably explains why they’re not present). Her mandibles aren’t visible so it seems like her maxilla have taken up the job. The top palps are attached to the maxilla so that’s how I could tell they were her maxilla.

This is completely different from any other moth, because the only mouthparts present for them are their maxilla and its palps. But the maxilla of moths are also fused to form a tongue (there’s also moths with no mouths in their imago phase).

Next is her limbs.

Mothra definitely has six legs in her imago form, but her first four pairs of legs all end in very large and menacing raptorial appendages. It’s worth noting that only extremely carnivorous insects ever evolve raptorial appendages. Her first four limbs appear to only have three segments. I’m only seeing the coxa, femur, and tibia. So I guess her species have completely lost their tarsus, which are crucial for walking. Mantids, for example, may have seem like their claws only have three parts, but even they have a tarsus as well, because they can’t walk on their claws or they’ll get worn down and dull. So Mothra’s species either spends little to no time on the ground at all, or they only walk on their hind legs. Speaking of hind legs, it seems like hers do have a tarsus. Unusually though, while her first four legs are attached to her thorax, it seems like her legs are attached to her abdomen... or so it seems. We can see something very similar in beetles, where it seems like the hind legs are attached to the abdomen, but they’re really attached to the very back of the thorax. So it only looks like their hind legs are attached to their abdomen. And while it looks like there’s a very clear divide between Mothra’s thorax and abdomen, that’s really just a part of her thorax that’s pinched. Some Hymenopterans like ants also have a pinched thorax as well. It also looks there’s parts of here exoskeleton that look more like plated armor or scales that an actual exoskeleton, so she might have both an exoskeleton and bits of an endoskeleton. But then again, I could be reading the blurry pictures of the figurines wrong.

As for her placement in the tree of life, it seems like her kind evolved from very primitive moths, and diverged from the rest of the lepidopteran order before their maxilla fused into a tongue.

Now, I want to go back to her arms and mouth again. Past Mothra incarnations have had small mouths and stubby little legs (that oddly ended in three claws despite all arthropods only having two), but the legendary incarnation is different.

She has raptorial limbs, and a very big and threatening mouth.

This is not the cute and adorable Mothra we know.

This Mothra is a predator, and not just any kind of predator.

We see her diving from the sky with her raptorial claws outstretched and ready to stab in the trailers. You know what other kind of predator dive bombs it’s prey and strikes it with such devastating speed?

Peregrine Falcons.

Mothra is the peregrine falcon of the kaiju world and she will dive bomb and impale any threat to the balance of nature on her claws... and then she will eat it.