Giant Atlas Moth

So, this beautiful Atlas Moth (Attacus Atlas) is considered the biggest in the world (wingspan over 10 inches). I loved how it has sections (the white-looking diamondy bits) which are actually transparent so you can see the leaves through it.
It is sad though – they live only 1 – 2 weeks and don’t have fully developed mouth parts so they live off fat reserves then die 😦

Tags: Animal, Animals, Atlas, Attacus, Beautiful, Colour, Colourful, Colours, Giant, Insect, Moth, Natural, Nature, Photo, Photograph, Photographs, photography, Photos, Picture, Pictures, Tania Jessica Smith, Tania Smith, taniajessicasmith

25 thoughts on “Giant Atlas Moth”

Colline on May 14, 2012 at 12:17 pm said:

One never expects a moth to be so beautiful!

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- Tania Smith on May 14, 2012 at 8:50 pm said:
  
  Absolutely! Lovely surprise
  
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John on May 14, 2012 at 12:36 pm said:

Mothus-Mammothus! Ten inches, that’s major. Nice colors. 🙂

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- Tania Smith on May 14, 2012 at 8:50 pm said:
  
  It is pretty big….and beautiful 🙂
  
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avian101 on May 14, 2012 at 12:57 pm said:

It’s the first time I see a picture of this moth, it’s magnificent! What Country is it found? 🙂

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- Tania Smith on May 14, 2012 at 8:53 pm said:
  
  Well this (not so) little fella was photographed in the Natural History Museum in London in our live ‘butterfly garden’ last summer but having consulted Wikipedia I can tell you that it is found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, and common across the Malay archipelago 🙂 Gorgeous creature….
  
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EarlHarrisPhotography.com on May 14, 2012 at 1:41 pm said:

Very beautiful – and interesting! 🙂

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- Tania Smith on May 14, 2012 at 8:54 pm said:
  
  🙂
  
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Robyn Lee on May 14, 2012 at 3:19 pm said:

ooo…just last week posted a shot of a beautiful moth too. Maybe half the size – and of course I first thought a butterfly. I noticed your moth has a similar spot on it’s wing where it looks like a chunk is missing? I did not know they had such short life-spans… wow…:( This one is stunning – great capture Tania!

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buckwheatsrisk on May 14, 2012 at 4:51 pm said:

beautiful, fascinating, and sad all at once! nice shot!!

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- Tania Smith on May 14, 2012 at 8:57 pm said:
  
  Thank you for your appreciation 🙂
  
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Time To Be Inspired on May 14, 2012 at 5:45 pm said:

You have captured such richness in the color of this beautiful moth! The transparent sections almost look like cut-work. Where was this shot?

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- Tania Smith on May 14, 2012 at 8:58 pm said:
  
  Thank you….this one was in our live butterfly garden in the Natural History Museum in London last summer 🙂
  
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LensScaper on May 14, 2012 at 8:16 pm said:

Well captured, Tania

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- Tania Smith on May 14, 2012 at 8:58 pm said:
  
  Thank you 🙂
  
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Ink. [Anette] on May 15, 2012 at 12:11 am said:

Such a magnificent creature. Beautiful picture Tania.

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Zen and Genki on May 15, 2012 at 5:54 am said:

Wow, that colour is just stunning! Great shot!

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- Tania Smith on May 17, 2012 at 12:19 pm said:
  
  Thank you Anne!
  
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Krystiana on May 15, 2012 at 8:32 am said:

wow…..beautiful……very nice day
😉

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- Tania Smith on May 17, 2012 at 12:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much!
  
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Binky on May 15, 2012 at 3:17 pm said:

That’s a beautiful moth, and a great picture of it.

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- Tania Smith on May 17, 2012 at 12:20 pm said:
  
  Thanks Binky 🙂
  
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ballardstudio on May 19, 2012 at 3:29 pm said:

Amazing! You did a great job getting a lot of color into the shot.

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beckarooney on May 21, 2012 at 3:16 pm said:

Wow what an amazing shot! I had to look twice before I realised it was a moth 🙂 ♥

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spiderpaw on July 1, 2012 at 2:42 pm said:

Nice post Tania. That is a huge moth.

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