Once in a while we are fortunate to receive a shipment of these spectacular insects, the largest moths in the world, Attacus atlas.
Since moths are nocturnal, these beauties don’t fly during the daylight hours while the Center is open, but are very visible sitting with their wings spread, waiting for nightfall.
Notice the elongated tips of the forewings – don’t they resemble a snake’s head? Because giant silk moths (including our local luna and polyphemus moths) don’t eat as adults, their lifespan is regrettably short – less than a week.