Tag Archives: moth

100 Years – 100 Objects: Madagascar Sunset Moth

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The Houston Museum of Natural Science was founded in 1909 – meaning that the curators of the Houston Museum of Natural Science have been collecting and preserving natural and cultural treasures for a hundred years now. For this yearlong series, our current curators have chosen one hundred exceptional objects from the Museum’s immense storehouse of specimens and artifacts—one for each year of our history. Check back here frequently to learn more about this diverse selection of behind-the-scenes curiosities—we will post the image and description of a new object every few days.

This description is from Nancy, the museum’s director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center and curator of entomology. She’s chosen a selection of objects that represent the rarest and most interesting insects in the Museum’s collections,that we’ll be sharing here – and at 100.hmns.org- throughout the year.

Madagascar Sunset Moth – Chrysiridia rhipheus

Madagascar Sunset Moth-6x5This spectacular, iridescently colored moth is considered by many to be the most beautiful of all Lepidoptera (the order of “scaly winged” insects, i.e., butterflies and moths). A day-flying moth endemic to Madagascar, it was originally described as a butterfly due to its resemblance to the swallowtails. The rainbow of colors on both upper and lower wing surfaces that make this species so sought after by collectors are not due to pigments, but result from the scattering and reflecting of light by microscopic ridges and pits on the highly curved scales covering the wings.

The museum has several hundred specimens of this moth.  It is relatively common in its native habitat, where it periodically undergoes massive one-way migrations when the hostplants for the caterpillar stage (they feed on trees in the spurge family) increase the amount of distasteful toxins in the leaves.  Interestingly, after the migration has lessened pressure on the hostplant, the amount of toxins in the leaves subsides to normal levels.  In the American tropics, a close relative, the green Urania moth (Urania fulgens), also makes mass migrations for the same reason.

Learn more about moths and their relatives in a visit to the new Brown Hall of Entomology, a part of the Cockrell Butterfly Center– a living, walk-through rainforest at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

You can see more images of this fascinating artifact – as well as the others we’ve posted so far this year – in the 100 Objects section at 100.hmns.org

100 Years – 100 Objects: Spanish Moon Moth

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The Houston Museum of Natural Science was founded in 1909 – meaning that the curators of the Houston Museum of Natural Science have been collecting and preserving natural and cultural treasures for a hundred years now. For this yearlong series, our current curators have chosen one hundred exceptional objects from the Museum’s immense storehouse of specimens and artifacts—one for each year of our history. Check back here frequently to learn more about this diverse selection of behind-the-scenes curiosities—we will post the image and description of a new object every few days.

This description is from Nancy, the museum’s director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center and curator of entomology. She’s chosen a selection of objects that represent the rarest and most interesting insects in the Museum’s collections,that we’ll be sharing here – and at 100.hmns.org- throughout the year.

Spanish Moon Moth – Actias (Graellsia) isabellae

Spanish Moon Moth

This relative of our luna moth (Actias luna) is native to conifer woodlands in the mountains of northern Spain, southern France, and parts of Switzerland. There is still some debate over whether this moth should be included in the genus Actias, or placed in its own genus (Graellsia). The species name honors Queen Isabela of Spain. This moth is fairly rare and populations are fragmented, so today it is protected by law in Spain and France and cannot be collected without a special permit.

Males and females are similar in color, but the male (right) has long tails much like our luna, while the stouter female (left) has much shorter tails. The caterpillars, handsomely patterned in green, brown, and white, eat various conifers, especially pine.

Learn more about butterflies and their relatives in a visit to the new Brown Hall of Entomology, a part of the Cockrell Butterfly Center– a living, walk-through rainforest at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

You can see more images of this fascinating artifact – as well as the others we’ve posted so far this year – in the 100 Objects section at 100.hmns.org

Giant Atlas Moths fluttering into the Butterfly Center soon

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atlas moth secret cloaking device revealed
Creative Commons License photo credit: woodleywonderworks

Well, it’s that time of year again… we have started to get Attacus atlas, aka Atlas moths, YEAH!!!!  This is always an exciting time for me because I get to tell everyone who keeps asking me that they are finally here!  Last week, I received 60 atlas moth cocoons from Malaysia and the Philippines.  Unlike the butterflies we receive on a regular basis that all emerge within a few weeks, the atlas moths should be emerging over a few months, so we should have them for a while. 

The Atlas moth belongs to the family of giant silk moths, Saturniidae. They are considered to be the largest moths in the world in terms of wing surface area.  These impressive moths can only be found naturally in Southeast Asia, where they are very common. Their name comes from either the Titan of Greek mythology or from the striking pattern on their wings, which resembles a map.  If you look at the tips of the forewings they resemble a snakes head, which makes for great predator protection.

The females are significantly larger than the males, especially their abdomen because she has to lay a bunch of eggs, which are already developed and ready to be fertilized.  The males have larger, bushier antennae, in order to detect female pheromones. 

 The females
are larger and have bigger abdomens

 The males are smaller and have longer antennae

 

Each moth starts it’s life as a beautiful, emerald-colored caterpillar. The larvae feed on a wide variety of food plants, and may even wander from one to another.  As it gets bigger it developes a more waxy, light-white-ish green coloration.  It then spins a silken cocoon to protect itself and pupates inside (This is different from butterflies who develop inside a chrysalis, not a cocoon).  The adults, as in other Saturniids, have no mouth parts whatsoever, so they cannot feed. They survive off of fat reserves they build up as caterpillars.

Moth
Polyphemus Moth
Creative Commons License photo credit: Andreanna

Moths fly at night, so you may see these large moths resting on trees in the Butterfly Center during the day, paying no attention to the butterflies fluttering all around them.  I try really hard each time a moth emerges to place it in a very obvious place so people can see them.  Many people think they are fake because they sit so still, but now you know they are not!

Some other moths that belong in the Saturniidae family that you can find around here include the cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), and the luna moth (Actias luna).  These moths aren’t as big as the atlas moth, but they are big when compared to other moths and butterflies in Texas. 

luna
Luna Moth
Creative Commons License photo credit: Aunt Owwee


I hope you get a chance to stop off and see our wonderful giants and keep a look out for the native moths, they are a wonder to see too!

PHOTO From You: Insect Identification

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Have you ever just wondered what the weird alien-like creature is in your backyard, or what is that bizarre THING hanging onto you car? Well, we’re here to help. One of my favorite parts of being an entomologist is helping people to identify amazing insects and other arthropods that we have right here in our little part of the world. So snap a quick photo and send it in to blogadmin@hmns.org. Even if you know what the bugs is, we’d love to see all of your awesome photos! We’ll feature them right here on our blog with a description of the critter. We can’t wait to see what you have, and we love a challenge.

green-lynx-spider-resized.jpeg

Photo provided by Troy Bell
Green Lynx Spider (Peucitia viridans)

This photo was sent to us by Troy Bell, a volunteer at our Woodlands Xploration Station. Thanks Troy, for this incredible photo of a Green Lynx Spider (Peucitia viridans).

Lynx spiders can be distinguished from others by their hexagonal eye arrangement, long tapering abdomen, and spiny legs. The Green Lynx Spider is the largest found in North America and can be found in the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America.

These spiders do not make a web; they preserve their silk for their precious egg case, which they guard ferociously. They are considered to be “sit and wait” predators, but some have been observed stalking their prey, much like a cat.

This species has been recognized as a beneficial predator, due to it’s affinity for agricultural pests, such as the Bollworm Moth.  They also, unfortunately, have a taste for beneficial insects like honeybees. These spiders will rarely bite humans and their venom is harmless.

What a beautiful spider – thanks again for sharing your photo with us, Troy!