Mariposa: A Rare Beauty

When was the last time you see a Mariposa? A colorful, big, butterfly-like moth. Here in the Philippines, the Giant atlas moth is nothing new— in the wild, it’s found in the dense high altitude of our rainforests but sometimes it wanders around the neighborhood.

The giant atlas moth (Atticus atlas) is the biggest species of moth. The wingspan of this moth is range from 10-to 12 inches, the size of a ruler. The body is too small, not so proportionally to its large wings but it serves its purpose. The higher part of its wing is usually reddish-brown with black, white, and orange border lines. Same on the lower part of the wings but it creates beautiful window-like patterns, also, it has a spade shape and see-through spots on the middle part of its wings.

Additionally, the Giant Atlas moth is well known for its snake head-like wing edges, which they use to scare predators. Because of its gorgeously patterned colorful wings, people usually mistakenly identify it as a butterfly.

Butterfly vs. Moth

Sometimes, people thought that this creature is a butterfly, but it is not. They belong to the same group of flying insects called Lepidoptera but there are differences between the two. The butterfly antenna is most likely straight and thin while the moth has a feathery and wide antenna. Moths are nocturnal and active during the night to find a mate while butterfly enjoys daylight.

They both like nectars from flowers, which they store in their body to power up their wings. Most butterflies rest with their wings close while moths were usually open. Butterflies don't have ears; they use their wings to feel the vibration but moths have. In finding a mate, butterflies use their sight but moths use scent to select their partners. They may have looked similar, but they are different. Next time you spot either of the two, I'm sure you can identify which is which.

A Short but Beautiful Life

During their larva stage, they are typically seen devouring leaves of citrus, cinnamon, guava, and evergreen trees. After reaching approximately 4.5 inches, they pupate and hide in a cocoon. After four weeks in their shell, an Imago will appear. However, the adult giant moth is weak because they don't have mouthparts, thus, they can't eat. The sole reason why this moth is at rest during the day and active at night is that it wants to conserve its energy in finding its mate. The longest life they can usually live in two weeks.