#moths are beautiful

[y0ur-fr1endly-queer]

Lunar Moth photos I took, its alive just sleeping

[angel-syzygy]

this summer, open your mind AND your window

let bugs into your heart. and your room

[cheapsweets]

Butterflies are but one small subset of the glorious diversity that are moths

btw we as a society need to redeem the reputation of moths. Butterflies are seen as beautiful and beneficial and a normal thing to like, but moths are gross and creepy and ugly???

It's so dumb! Moths can be beautiful and colorful like butterflies can be and they are important pollinators! They visit flowers that bees ignore! Moths are a way larger and more diverse group than butterflies anyway!!

[applebugg]

[swampwizards]

Found this handsome fella this morning!

Hyalophora cecropia

[liivn]

[thegorgonist]

Number 13 from my #mothtober is the incredible Comet Moth of Madagascar Moon Moth (October is a state of mind, these will def be taking me more than one month due to ~secret news for later~)

[florbe-triz]

Catocala unijuga, the red once-married underwing moth.

[moths-daily]

Moth Of The Day #222

Madagascan Sunset Moth

Chrysiridia rhipheus

From the uraniidae family. They have a wingspan of 7-11 cm. They inhabit a wide variety of habitatsd, from deciduous forests to rain forest regions. They are endemic to Masagascar.

Image sources: [1] [2]

[snoozeandstudysounds]

Giant Moths

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

The Madagascan Sunset Moth: these moths are often mistaken for butterflies, thanks to their colorful, iridescent appearance

The scientific name of this species is Chrysiridia rhipheus, but it's commonly known as the Madagascan sunset moth. These gorgeous day-flying moths can be found only in Madagascar.

Above: a dorsal view of the same species

The Madagascan sunset moth has a strikingly colorful appearance, especially when its underwings are exposed, as a rainbow-like effect is produced by the iridescent scales that cover the underwings (and appear in smaller sections on the dorsal side of the wing).

Above: some of the iridescent scales on the underwings of Chrysiridia ripheus, as seen through a scanning electron microscope

The markings on the dorsal side are primarily black, with some patches of iridescent green, blue, and red. A "fringe" of white scales can also be seen along the edge of each wing; these are especially prominent on the hindwings.

Above: the dorsal patterns are visible only when the wings are left open

Like most day-flying moths, the adults of this species will often feed on nectar. Their caterpillars are known to consume Omphalea plants, which are toxic; those toxins are sequestered by the caterpillar and then retained through the pupal and adult stages of development, which means that the adult moth is toxic. Their colorful appearance is likely aposomatic, deterring predators by signaling that the moth itself is toxic.

Above: a magnified view of the white scales that outline the hindwings

Sources & More Info:

Navsari Agricultural University: Sunset Moth: the most beautiful insect

Oxford University Museum of Natural History: Madagascar

Moth Identification Guide: Madagascan Sunset Moth

California Academy of Sciences: Sunset Moth

Optica: Polarization-Sensitive Color Mixing in the Wing of the Madagascan Sunset Moth

Wikipedia: Chrysiridia rhipheus

[destroyer-of-monsters]

Titanus Mosura

GxK The New Empire Mothra GIF Pack 1

[alienbath]

I will be a moth defender till the day I die because just look: she speaks for herself

(Source: alexey_tat on iNatualist)

[tubbytarchia]

Somewhere in the woods, a moth tires of seeking light

[pallanophblargh]

I was recently extremely blessed in being able to finally see one of my “bucket list bugs” as I’ve started calling them. (Not a real list, as I’m never one to be organized…)

But a friend alerted me to the presence of this big beauty and J gave me a leg up to take a closer photo with my measly phone camera and subpar photography skills. I found some eggs she had laid on the wall and I scooped them up in hopes I can look after them. She hung around with her admirers for a good half hour before deciding she’d lingered long enough and flew off into the literal sunset.

Cecropia moth, Hyalophora cecropia, largest moth species in North America. Bug haters, don’t interact!