Argema middle
| Argema middle | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_male_(7112691481).jpg)
Argema mittrei , males |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Argema middle | ||||||||||||
| ( Méneville , 1847) |
Argema mittrei ( synonym : Actias mittrei ), also known as Comet moths , or -motte or butterfly , is endemic to Madagascar occurring butterfly from the family of saturniidae (Saturniidae).
description
butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan of 140 to 160 millimeters. This makes them one of the largest butterflies in the world. The females are slightly larger than the males. There is a slight sexual dimorphism between the sexes . This is mainly expressed by the length of the tails of the hind wings. In the males these are up to 130 millimeters long, in the females shorter. The coloring and drawing are similar in both sexes. On the forewings, two red-brown transverse lines dissolved in dots stand out. There is a brown, black seeded eye spot on each of the fore and hind wings. The area around the apex of the forewings is red-brown to black-brown, the front edge is red-brown. The tails are also colored reddish brown and end in a yellow hue and a spoon-like shape. The antennae of the males have a very long and distinct comb teeth, which are less developed in the females. A proboscis is missing.
Caterpillar
Adult caterpillars are colored yellow-green to grass-green. They show yellowish constrictions behind each body segment. Light yellow stigmas stand out on the sides . The back area is provided with some short light hair.
Similar species
The somewhat smaller peacock moth Argema mimosae resembles Argema mittrei in its external appearance. However, since this species does not occur in Madagascar, there is no geographical overlap between the two species.
distribution and habitat
Argema mittrei occurs exclusively in Madagascar . He colonized rainforests there.
Because of the attractiveness of the moths, they are exhibited in some butterfly zoos on different continents and also farmed.
Way of life
Although the Argema moths are very large and conspicuous, little is known about their way of life. At night they can be attracted with artificial light sources . The caterpillars feed on the leaves of cherry myrtle ( Eugenia ) and Weinmannia species. Before pupating, the caterpillar spins a cocoon out of silver-white silk threads. The cocoon has numerous holes that prevent the pupae from being damaged in the rain that occurs almost every day and the rainwater can always run off well. After hatching, the females wait on their cocoons for the males to appear to mate and sometimes lay some of the eggs on the cocoon. A study looked at ways in which wild silk production could be improved and whether new types of silk could serve as an economic tool to protect biodiversity in Madagascar. It was found that the caterpillars spin a comparatively large amount of silk for a cocoon. However, this type of silk cannot be used for economic production.
Appreciation
On the back of the 5000 Fmg note, the old Malagasy currency Franc Malagasy , the name of the Malagasy national bank BANKI FOIBEN'I MADAGASIKARA was flanked by two comet butterflies.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Markku Savela: Tanaecia Butler (1869) - distribution. In: Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Retrieved January 25, 2019 .
- ↑ Tsiresy Razafimanantosoa, Olga R. Ravoahangimalala, Catherine L. Craig: Indigenous silk moth farming as a means to support Ranomafana National Park , Madagascar Conservation & Devolopment, Volume 1, Issue 1, 2006, pp. 34-39
- ^ Historical Franc Malagasy
Web links
- afromoths.net - Afro Moths
- learnaboutbutterflies - Madargascan Comet Moth
- africanmoths.com - African Moths
- madagascar-library - Argema mittrei on a postage stamp in Madagascar