Yesterday I found a curious news: "The biggest butterflies of the world are born in the Oceanografic of Valencia".
Oceanografic of Valencia, eastern Spain
The last Friday, the Oceanogràfic of Valencia has hosted the birth of a group of Attacus Atlas, the largest butterfly in the world, a species native to Southeast Asia, whose wings have a wingspan of about 30 centimetres.
Butterfly Attacus Atlas
The butterfly Atlas (Attacus atlas) is a species of ”ditrisio lepidopteran” of the family Saturniidae. It is the largest representative of the family. Female specimens are larger and stronger. The largest lepidopteran is the “white devil” (Thysania agrippina). Its scientific name derives from the name of the “Atlas titan” of Greek mythology. In Hong Kong, in Cantonese, its common name translates as "snake-head butterfly", in reference to the apical extension of the wings, which bears a resemblance to such a snake head.
Both sexes have, by the size of their wings, a heavy form of flight, carried by the direction of the wind.
It inhabits the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, southern China, through the Malay archipelago to Indonesia. In India, Atlas butterflies are grown by silk, in non-commercial proportions. Unlike the silk, produced by the silkworm (Bombyx mori), the caterpillar silk of the Atlas butterfly is secreted in non-continuous threads. This silk (called "fagara") of brown colour, and similar to the wool, is appreciated by its great durability. In Taiwan, chrysalis of the Atlas butterfly are used to make wallets.
These lepidoptera live only a few days, since they have no digestive system and, therefore, they can not feed on, during their adult phase.
However, they get all their energy from the fruit-leaf feeding, during their caterpillar phase.
A caterpillar of Butterfly Atlas
Butterflies Attacus Atlas in the Oceanografic
A buuterfly Attacus Atlas close up
Well, I hope that you have liked this article. And I hope that you can come to Spain, to visit the Oceanografic, if you do not line in Spain.
Until my net post, kind regards,
Luis.
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