Many insects start life as grubs, maggots or caterpillars before metamorphosing into more glamorous adults. As reptile keepers, we generally only see the larval stage of these insect’s life cycle. Waxworms, mealworms, morios and Pachnoda all change form, if they avoid the mouth of a hungry lizard that is.
Some people do keep insects as pets in their own right though. When I received pictures of an Atlas Moth in my email inbox this morning, I knew I had to share them with you guys.
The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) is a big insect. The caterpillar can grow up to 5″ and the wingspan of the adults can be up to 12″!
Donna and Dave Davis started off with 20 eggs, 18 hatched and they managed to get 12 to the pupation stage in January 2010. The caterpillars were fed on privet. The first moth emerged from it’s papery cocoon yesterday, it was dormant in there for a year! Just got to wait for the others now!
Anyway, the pictures are below, hope you enjoy them, let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Atlas Moth Caterpillar
Atlas Moth Caterpillar
Atlas Moth Cocoon
Atlas Moth
yes, it’s verging on the outrageous!!
I cant believe how much the wing looks like two snake heads…..
Outstanding!! Thank You. That caterpillar looks like it’s a cartoon of itself. Very brave boy holding it. Beautiful moth.. and all on privet, eh?!! Outstanding!!
Or is it Brave Girl holding caterpillar. Apologies for mistake. Brave Child, either way!!!
amazing!
Thankyou for posting this blog, Dominic will be excited when he sees it.
No more moths have hatched as yet but we will let you know when they do.
Dave and Donna
Beautiful – we had some Indian Moon Moths a few times but nothing on that scale!
Beautiful – we had some Indian Moon Moths a few times but nothing on that scale!