Night fairies
Moths have been fluttering on our planet for 160 million years, yet we know so little about them. They existed much before the dinosaurs came into being, and butterflies are believed to have evolved from moths. There are so many species of moths that many of them are yet to be discovered and studied.
Let us study some of the species today.
Most of us think moths are dull, unlike their cousins, the colourful butterflies. But the truth is quite the contrary. Luna moths (like the one below) are pale pistachio green with silvery crescent-moon-like markings on their wings, ending in long twirling tails, much like a bridal train. They are rarely seen due to their brief (7–10 day) adult lives and nocturnal flying time.
Atlas moths have a wingspan of a whopping 28-30 cm and could be mistaken for birds. They are the largest moths in the world, and can be found in India. The female Atlas moths are noticeably larger and heavier than males, while males have broader antenna. Can you guess if the moth in the given picture below is male or female? Solve the shuffle to see.
Giant leopard moth is a flashy species, also called the eyed tiger moth. Its large wingspan of nearly 8 centimetres gives it plenty of room to flash the patterns on its wings. The wings of this moth are bright white with a pattern of neat black blotches, some solid and some hollow.
Emperor moths are found throughout the Palearctic region and in the British Isles. The males usually fly around during the day looking for females, which usually only fly at night. Odd, but the timing seems to work for the species. The female is larger (wingspan about 80 mm) but less brightly coloured than the male.