One of the world’s largest moths has been officially spotted in the US for the first time. Because Atlas moths with a wingspan greater than 25 centimeters are typically found in the tropical forests of Asia, entomologists do not know how the insect found itself in Washington.
The moth was first reported to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) on July 7 by a professor at the University of Washington. The specimen was submitted to the Animal and Plant Health Research Service at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on July 27 and was confirmed to be an atlas moth.
“It’s an impressive insect for its enormous size,” WSDA executive entomologist Sven Spichiger said in a statement. “Even if you’re not looking for an insect, it’s the kind of thing people pull out their phones and take pictures of – it’s stunning.”
Atlas moths (Attacus atlas) take their name from the Titan Atlas, who in Greek mythology kept the skies afloat due to their gigantic size. With a wingspan of more than 25 centimeters, the species is one of the world’s largest lepidopterans, an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths.
This moth species is considered a federally quarantined pest in the United States, meaning it is illegal to acquire, house, feed, or sell live moths without permission from the USDA. This decision was made because this species could become a potentially invasive species and pose a risk to US agriculture, the natural environment or native species.
The strict restrictions placed on this genre make it even stranger that it has appeared in the US.
“This is normally a tropical moth,” Spichiger said. “We’re not sure it will survive here,” he says. “The USDA is collecting current scientific and technical information on this moth and will offer solutions, but in the meantime, let’s find out if it’s a rare escape moth or if there really is a population in the area. We hope it will help. ”
Atlas moths have been spotted outside of their natural habitats before. In 2012, a large atlas moth was reported in the town of Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester, England. That moth was suspected when a person escaped from the private collection.
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