Butterfly Peacock-eye Atlas
Atlas is one of the largest (giant) butterflies. Belongs to the peacock-eye family, whose gigantic size will impress anyone.
The butterfly got its name "atlas" from the ancient Greek mythical hero Atlanta, or Atlas. He held the vault of heaven on his shoulders. Only a very large butterfly could get this name in its name.
The wingspan of the Atlas is up to 25 centimeters. In males, the anterior wings are somewhat larger than the hind wings. The females are the same size. This causes a sexual difference: males have a shape similar to a triangle, females - to a square.
However, females are larger than males. Atlas ladies have a wingspan of up to 40 centimeters!
Butterfly bodies are shorter than wings. It is very voluminous, thick and red-brown in color. The coloration of the wings is the same in both males and females. The general tone is from chestnut to red, with a noticeable darkening in the center. Along the edges - a black border and light brown stripes.
Justifying its belonging to the peacock-eyes - each wing has a "peephole". It has little pigmentation and looks more like a triangle.
Atlas habitats are in Thailand, South China, Indonesia. Also, these butterflies are found in the foothills of the Himalayas. However, atlas is more common in tropical and subtropical forests.
Females do not lead a very "saturated" life. They move little and are close to the place of their pupation. They sit right there until they die.
Males are masters of aerobatics. They try to be in flight all the time, and in places with strong winds. So it is easier and easier for them to smell the females and find a mate for mating.
The most amazing thing is that adult butterflies do not eat anything! They live off the reserves accumulated during the "caterpillar" age. That is why the life of an adult butterfly (imago) is no more than 2 weeks.
Atlas caterpillars feed only on plant foods.
During mating and reproduction, females emit odorous substances (pheromones). Their concentration is so negligible that it is elusive to any living creature, except for males of their own species, and at a distance of up to 3 km from the female herself.
After mating, the female lays her eggs on the inner surface of the leaves. Egg diameter 25-30 mm. After about 2 weeks, caterpillars appear from them, whose goal is to eat as much energy reserves as possible.
During pupation, the caterpillar weaves a cocoon. Its size can exceed 11 centimeters in length. The cocoon is suspended to reduce the risk of being eaten.
In nature, the atlas has no enemies. But they reproduce very slowly, so any damage to the population requires a lot of time to recover.
Man destroyed these butterflies because of the cocoons. From the threads, people made loon silk, which is more durable than silk from silkworm threads.
Atlases, for some unknown reason, are still not listed in the World Red Book. However, their population is in dire need of protection.
Atlas defensive posture. At the moment of danger, the butterfly opens its wings and shows bright spots - such a war paint can scare a predator.
Peacock-eye atlas (Attacus atlas) is found in Southeast Asia, Southern China, Thailand, Borneo and Indonesia. Prefers tropical and subtropical forests.
Distinguishing properties
This is the largest butterfly in the world - its wingspan is 26 cm, and their average surface area is 400 cm2. The body of a butterfly is small compared to its wings. Females are larger than males.
The male can be distinguished by the presence of fluffy antennae. On the brownish-yellow wings of a butterfly, patterns of white triangles, red and black stripes are visible. In Hong Kong, this species is called the snake-headed butterfly - the edges of the upper wings bent down resemble two snake heads. This is an example of a protective coloration - predators confuse an insect with a snake.
The inhabitants of the island of Taiwan have come up with a very original use for the empty cocoons of the peacock-eye atlas. They use them as wallets.
Lifestyle and reproduction
The life of these large butterflies consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult.
The imago of the peacock-eye does not feed, since its mouth is atrophied. It exists at the expense of stocks accumulated at the larval stage.
The danger to the species is represented by poachers-collectors.
At the end of the female's abdomen are special glands that secrete pheromones that attract males. After mating, the female lays eggs 2.5 mm in diameter, attaching them to the inside of the leaf. After about two weeks, caterpillars appear. At first, they feed on the leaves of various plants. When the caterpillar reaches 115 mm in length, the pupation stage begins. The cocoon seems simply huge, its mass sometimes reaches 12 g.
It is interesting
In India, the peacock-eye atlas is specially bred. The special interest in insects is explained by the fact that the caterpillars of this species secrete threads, like the well-known silkworm (Bombyx mori). True, they have a slightly different chemical composition and differ in appearance - dark brown and woolly to the touch in a peacock-eye versus long and thin in a silkworm, and it’s more correct to call them not silk, but faghara. But in terms of mechanical properties, the product is in no way inferior to what is obtained from the “manufacturer” already familiar to everyone.
Attacus Atlas is a giant moth with a wingspan of over 25cm, one of the largest in the world. The butterfly has an unusual pattern: on the main velvety-brown background there are pink stains and transparent triangular windows. The female and male differ markedly in size and shape of the wings. The male is smaller (span 18-20 cm) and the tips of the upper wings are sharpened, the female has larger rounded wings and a span of 24-26 cm.
Also, the male has wider and larger antennae than the female. Even in the pupal stage, if you look closely, the difference in antennae size is clearly visible and this is one of the few species in which the female can be distinguished from the male at the pupal stage. The genus Attacus has a range from East India to New Guinea. The diet of atlas caterpillars is quite large, so the full cycle of the butterfly is quite easy to reproduce at home. True caterpillars in the last stages of development are incredibly voracious and can eat 100 times their weight in a day. The length of the caterpillars at the last stage reaches 10 cm.
In Attacus atlas collections, it is often found. Many specimens are bred from pupae on farms and therefore have retained their original beauty. In butterflies born in natural habitats, the wings are often damaged already in the first hours of flight.
If you look at butterflies in central Russia, they rarely grow larger than a walnut. And everyone has long been accustomed to this kind of winged decorations of fields and meadows.
However, there are such types of butterflies that surpass even the rather large birds familiar to Russians in size. Such fluttering persons live only in the tropics. What is now the largest butterfly in the world can not be unequivocally said. Several species compete for the prestigious title at once. And all because the wings of butterflies can be evaluated in different ways - by area or by maximum span. By the way, the largest butterflies in the world also claim the status of the most beautiful butterflies on the planet.
Tizania agrippina
One of the largest butterflies in the world is Tizania agrippina. It is also called the scoop agrippina. The wingspan of this person can be 30.8 centimeters. It was such a specimen that was caught and measured in 1934 in Africa. And this is by far the largest representative of the species Tizania agrippina. However, this species is inferior in terms of wingspan to the Peacock-eyed Atlas, which also fights for the title of "the largest butterfly in the world."The largest butterfly in the world lives mainly in Mexico, South and Central America. They emigrated there from more southern regions. And the individual feeds on cassia leaves - this is a shrub that grows to a meter height. Tizania agrippina is difficult to see during the day, it is exclusively nocturnal. Moreover, if such a record holder butterfly came into the field of view of a person, then it is better to admire it from afar. And not because it is poisonous or can cause some harm, the Scoop is on the verge of extinction.
Outwardly, Tizania is very similar to a huge beautiful moth. Both pairs of butterfly wings are wavy at the edges. The upper part of the wings and body may be white with multiple wavy brown, gray and brown stripes. Different individuals of this species may have different colors. In some, the brown pattern is more pronounced than in others and dominates the overall white background. The lower body of the butterfly is usually dark brown with whitish spots, but can also be matte or give off a metallic sheen.
Koscinoscere hercules
Another contender for the title of "The Biggest Butterfly in the World" is Koscinoscere Hercules. It's also quite a large one. Its size can reach up to 28 centimeters, such dimensions are reached mainly by females, while males are not so impressive. You can distinguish a male from a female not only by wingspan, but also by appearance. The difference is simple: very long spurs can be seen on males. 
Incredibly large and beautiful butterflies Koscinoscere hercules can be found in Australia and New Guinea. Like the previous record holders, these winged ones are nocturnal, so it is better to go out after sunset for spectacles in search of unprecedented butterflies. By the way, not only the Koscinoscere themselves are impressive with their dimensions, but also their caterpillars. They have impressive dimensions, grow up to 16-17 centimeters in length.
Peacock-eye Atlas
Another participant in the ranking of the largest butterflies in the world. And again with a rather original name. Peacock-eye Atlas can reach a size of 26 centimeters. The largest individual that happened to be found and measured lived on the Indonesian island of Java. The size of the butterfly was 26.2 centimeters. Well, in general, this species flies through China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, the Philippines and New Guinea.It is worth noting that Atlas Peacock-eye females are much larger than males. Individuals feed on the leaves of shrubs and trees. And how the previous champions are nocturnal. They are especially active at dusk, early in the morning and late in the evening, for which they received the nickname "Prince of Darkness". And it is best to observe the largest butterflies in the world not with your own eyes, but in the photo. However, the inhabitants of Russia can look at the beauty without leaving the country - Peacock-eyed Atlas is bred in the Moscow Zoo.
By the way, the view of Peacock-eye Atlas is quite interesting in itself. During mating periods, the male can detect the female at a distance of several kilometers. And the mating itself lasts several hours without interruption. Immediately after emerging from the pupa, both the male and the female are ready to breed. Peacock-eyes are unusually patient, females can wait for their male for several hours, while sitting motionless in one place, while the male will look for her at this time. And it is this process, that is, reproduction, that is the meaning of the life of the largest butterfly in the world. By the way, the life of the female is rather short. She dies immediately after laying offspring.
By the way, in Taiwan, Peacock-Eyes, without knowing it, benefit a person. People use caterpillar cocoons as wallets.
The largest butterfly in the world is striking in its beauty. The winged individual can be painted in bright red, yellow, pink and brown shades. And on each wing of a butterfly there are large triangular transparent "windows". The front wings have a rather bizarre curved edge, which resembles a snake's head in shape and color. It is with this that the Peacock-eye scares off insectivorous animals. By the way, in Hong Kong, for this unusual feature, Atlas was nicknamed "Moth - the head of a snake."
In addition to its size, Peacock-eye has another feature - its mouth is completely atrophied. Throughout its short life (only 1-2 weeks), the butterfly does not eat anything, but processes all the fat reserves that it accumulated in the caterpillar state.
By the way, the caterpillars of the giant butterfly are also huge - they grow up to 10 centimeters in length. And their appearance is original - they are light green in color with large blue processes all over the body, which are covered with a waxy white coating (similar to powder).
Peacock-eyed Atlas is not only a beautiful, but also a useful butterfly. In India, it is bred on special farms, where they get faghar silk. It differs from the silkworm product in its wooliness, strength and durability.
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Pupation of atlases occurs on the branches of the host plant, so there is no need to transplant the pupating larvae. On the first day, the cocoon, which is still loose, allows you to see the larva inside, but later the cocoon becomes opaque. It is undesirable to touch it for at least three days, until pupation ends and the pupa hardens. 3 days after the start of pupation, the cocoon can be separated from the host plant. It is not difficult to determine whether the pupa has formed: for this, it is enough to shake the cocoon in your hand. Its heaviness and the rolling of the hard chrysalis inside indicate that everything is in order. The heavy cocoon, inside which one cannot hear the sound of a rolling chrysalis, is not yet "ready". There, most likely, there is a caterpillar in the process of pupation, so it must be left alone for at least another day. If the cocoon became light over time, this indicates that the pupa died and dried up inside the cocoon. In any case, after pupation is completed, the cocoon can be opened to check the condition of the pupa and its sex.
- Diapause
When cocoons are kept in a warm and humid room, butterflies emerge after 2 weeks. However, if the cocoons are dried by holding them for several days at a relative air humidity of 30–40%, the pupae may enter a state of diapause. If this happens, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to predict the duration of diapause: it can last from one month to one year. Long-term diapause has no effect on the state of the pupa and the future butterfly, even if the cocoons are kept under conditions of low air humidity during the entire period of diapause. Unfortunately, attempts to stimulate the release of atlas pupae from diapause by a sharp change in the conditions of detention (increase in air humidity and/or temperature) are not successful. This feature of atlas pupae makes it very difficult to attempt to create a breeding culture, starting from producers brought from abroad at the (pupa stage. the simultaneous output of a male and a female drops sharply.Therefore, if you want to form a pair of butterflies hatching from imported cocoons, you need to have a large number of cocoons - preferably several dozen.In this case, the probability of a simultaneous emergence of several butterflies, from which one or two pairs can be formed Atlas butterflies are able to withstand prolonged cooling up to + 4 C. At the same time, they need high humidity, which can be provided by placing a piece of wet foam rubber or sphagnum in the cage. Cooling butterflies, you can briefly extend the period of their reproductive activity, in warm conditions not exceeding several days Atlases, like other large tropical peacock-eyes, look good in exhibition enclosures, although they remain motionless during daylight hours.
Fluttering flowers - this is the poetic name of the butterfly rightfully deserved. Intricate patterns on the thinnest wings, eye-pleasing combinations of bright colors - nature once again showed outstanding design skills, creating such marvelous creatures.
Butterfly is one of the most mysterious creatures of nature. Such a wonderful transformation is not deliberately invented. A real beauty with painted wings emerges from an unsightly larva.
Today, there are about 165,000 species of butterflies on the globe.
The curious world has prepared for you material about giant butterflies, the size of which is amazing.
1. Tizania Agrippina
Moth. The largest butterfly in the world lives in Brazil and Peru. It belongs to the endangered insects. Its wingspan is 30.8 centimeters. It is also called the scoop agrippina.
2. Queen Alexandra Ornithopter or Queen Alexandra Birdwing
Day butterfly. She received her name in honor of the wife of the British King Edward VII. The wingspan is up to 31 cm with a body length of about 8 cm. Such a creature can weigh up to 12 grams. The giant butterfly is found exclusively in the forests of the Oro province of the state of Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, the species is on the verge of extinction.
3. Peacock-eye "Hercules"
Night moth from a monotypic genus ( coscinocera) in the peacock-eye family. One of the largest butterflies in the world, and the largest in Australia; The wingspan of females can reach 27 cm.
4. Peacock-eye "Atlas"
The butterfly got its name "atlas" from the ancient Greek mythical hero Atlanta, or Atlas. He held the vault of heaven on his shoulders. Only a very large butterfly could get this name in its name. The wingspan of the Atlas is up to 26 centimeters. Cultivated in India. Its caterpillars produce excellent silk.
5. Sailboat "Antimach"
It is the largest diurnal butterfly in Africa. Wingspan up to 24 cm. This butterfly lives in tropical rainforests from the western coast of Sierra Leone to Uganda. Despite the extensive habitat, this species is not numerous. The butterfly is considered rare because it flies exclusively in virgin rainforests, which are under the threat of extinction due to massive logging. Unfortunately, it is very poisonous. Only three countries: Ghana, Ivory Coast and Zaire have taken measures to protect the antimach.
6. Birdwing "Goliath"
Large diurnal butterfly of the Sailfish family. The wingspan of males is up to 20 cm, females up to 22 cm. The color of males consists of 3 primary colors - green, yellow, black. The color of females is brown-brown, with light spots, the lower wings with a gray-yellow wide border.
It lives in the mountainous tropical forests of the Moluccas archipelago, from the island of Ssoram to the island of Gudenow off the southeast coast of New Guinea, at an altitude of up to 2300 m above sea level. Currently, 7 subspecies of goliath are known.
7. Trogonoptera Trojan
A large diurnal butterfly from the Sailfish family. The specific name means "Trojan", "originally from Troy".
Wingspan up to 19 cm. The female is slightly larger or the same size as the male. Lives only on the island of Palawan.
8. Ornithoptera Croesus
Large diurnal butterfly of the Sailfish family. The specific binomial name is given in honor of Croesus, the last king of Lydia in 560-546 BC. e. from the genus Mermnad.
Wingspan up to 19 cm. Males are characterized by an orange-yellow wing color, combined with black "inserts". When illuminated from the side, the wings flare with a greenish-yellow glow.
Butterfly discoverer naturalist Alfred Wallace recalled his first find of a male croesus on the island of Bachai: “The beauty of this butterfly cannot be expressed in words, and no one but a naturalist will understand the deep excitement that I experienced when I finally caught it. When I took her out of the net and spread her majestic wings, my heart began to beat, blood rushed to my head, I was then closer to fainting than in those moments when I was threatened with death. All that day I had a headache: so great was the excitement ... "
9. Saturnia Madagascar or Madagascar Comet
This butterfly is also called Lunar moth - a luxurious night butterfly of the family peacock-eye. It is one of the world record holders for the size of the wings.
This night beauty can only be seen in Madagascar. This species is endangered, therefore, in Madagascar, these magnificent butterflies are successfully bred on special farms.
Having given the butterfly such a bright appearance, mother nature saved on life support systems: the peacock-eye butterflies do not have a mouth apparatus and a digestive tract, so the Madagascar comet lives only 2-3 days due to the nutrient reserves accumulated by the caterpillar.
The wingspan is up to 18 cm. The wings are decorated with unusually long tails, sometimes reaching 20 cm. The tails often fall off after several flights.
The color of the wings is bright yellow. Each wing has one large brown eye with a black dot in the center. Wing apices with brown-black spot.
10. Golden Birdwing or Troides
One of the largest diurnal butterflies in South Asia. Its wingspan is about 16 cm. Due to its size and manner of flight, it got its name - Birdwing. Indeed, the flight of Troydes is more like the flight of a bird than the fluttering of a butterfly. Its golden yellow, translucent and mother-of-pearl hind wings shine like the sun and fill the atmosphere with the energy of light and joy. And this energy is really palpable when you hold this beautiful butterfly on your hand, because it is not for nothing that the Asian peoples consider the Golden Birdwing to be a symbol of financial well-being!
Butterfly Troides is a rather rare species and has long been listed in the Red Book. In the wild, in the homeland of the Troides butterfly (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia), this golden-winged flyer is very difficult to see, because. Troides mainly live in the depths of tropical forests.
11. Peacock-eye Pear
This butterfly is also called the large nocturnal peacock eye, or pear saturnia - a butterfly from the Peacock-eye family. The largest night butterfly in Europe and Russia in terms of wingspan.
Wingspan up to 15 cm. Females are larger than males. On the upper side of both pairs of wings, there is one large eye with a black middle and a brown rim around. Around the eye there is also a white border and a reddish ring. Along the edge of the wings there is a light stripe, behind it, closer to the base of the wing - a black one, interrupted only at the top of the forewings.
It is found in southern and central Europe, to the southwestern part of Russia, in the Caucasus, in Asia Minor and in Iran, Crimea.
Landscapes with a large number of shrubs and trees, forest edges, parks, gardens, orchards.
12. Ornithopter Chimera
Wingspan up to 15 cm. This butterfly flies very well, making extraordinary turns in the air, gliding and diving in search of nectar. Pollinates hibiscus.
The ornithopter chimera is widespread on the islands of New Guinea and Java in tropical rainforests at an altitude of 1200-1800 m above sea level.
13. Maak's Sailboat or Mac's Tail Bearer
A significant part of the black front wing of the male shimmers with a green dotted coating, which thickens closer to the edge into a rarefied emerald-blue border. The area free from green spraying shines with magical black silk: it is covered with the finest and most delicate fragrant black hairs - androconia. Hindwings with a wavy edge and long tails shine, iridescent, with a blue-green ornament.
The wingspan of the female reaches 13.5 cm.
A green dotted coating evenly covers the entire dark brown front wing of the female. The nature of the pattern of its hind wings is the same as that of the male, but its luster is muted, and in the marginal wavy border, along with green-blue, red-violet hues appear. Females are much more variable than males. It is difficult to find two identical butterflies among them.
This largest diurnal butterfly in Russia surpasses many tropical relatives in its beauty. It is hard to believe that the distribution area of this wonderful sailboat extends to 54 ° north latitude, where Tynda and the north of Sakhalin are located. Tail-bearer Maaka lives in the Middle Amur Region, Primorye, North Korea, Manchuria, and the Kuril Islands. In these places, butterflies are often found in broad-leaved and mixed forests, less often in spruce-fir. They also fly into taiga settlements. During the period when subalpine plants bloom, butterflies rise to mountains up to 2000 m above sea level: looking for food, they fly around treeless peaks in a circle.
14. Urania Madagascar
Wingspan 10.5 cm. This type of butterfly is typical only for Madagascar. Flies during the day, feeds on flower nectar. Butterflies can be seen all year round, especially their numbers increase from May to July. Her wings, despite the apparent lack of color at the ends, play with different colors of the rainbow.
