Atlas moths found in Singapore

[m00nman26]

Saw news on CNA and Yahoo abt recently atlas moths found in Singapore
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20070817/tap-world-s-largest-moth-makes-early-app-231650b.html
Its the world's biggest moth right?
Wonder where is this Sungai River :)

[Painted Jezebel]

When the Atlas larva was recently posted here, I notified Bill Oehkle, who runs the Saturnid website. He advised that he already had several records of Attacus atlas from Singapore. As it has made the news, it must be reasonably uncommon, but it is not a first!

I believe that it has the largest wing area, but is superceded by another moth , a Hercules from Africa I believe, which has a larger wingspan. No doubt Roger will advise. As I've posted this, it is probably wrong!

266

[Commander]

I believe you're right, Les. I also read somewhere that the Atlas Moth is not the world's largest moth too. Can't remember what it is. :hmmm:

[Elizabeth]

It is consider the largest moth in terms of the total wing surface area but it does not hold the record of being the biggest in wingspan. Read that somewhere.

I wondered what tree that was by the Sungei River. The cats feed on quite a variety of hostplants. I once found a cat on the ground in Cheshire Home which pupate soon after I picked it off the ground.

3 weeks into pupation, it died because of fumigation in the Home. I was:mad2: and I :cry: buckets. I was so eager to see the moth. But no, I don't think I want to farm the cats. They're huge.:sweat:

-Elizabeth

[Fumiryu]

Where exactly these moths and caterpillars can be found in Singapore? Would like to take some pictures of them.

[hkmoths]

...... No doubt Roger will advise. As I've posted this, it is probably wrong!

266

There are several species in the tribe Attacini (subfamily Saturniinae of Saturniidae) that could all lay claim to largest wing area, including A. atlas.
The largest moth wingspan is generally attributed to Thysania agrippina (Noctuidae: Catocalinae) from the Neotropics, although this is only marginally bigger than the Attacini species.

cheers,

Roger.