Everything was just like any other day. I woke up, I fed Laifu, I walked her, and then she demands to go to the backyard after her walk. I opened the sliding door and wholly-c.r.a.p, there was a gigantic moth resting at the corder of the sliding door. I have NEVER seen a moth that has a wing-span of about 15cm. It was HUGE, it was colourful, and it was pretty scary. Even Laifu was scared! She barked at the moth, and was very careful not to get too close to it. I, on the other hand, rushed to get the camera. I was unhappy that Jason’s not home yet, therefore the D50 was not home, but any camera can capture the gigantic thing! Though Laifu and I were very restless, the moth seems to be in its own world. It slowly moved its wings a couple times, and just sat still there, never moved in the 5minutes that Laifu and I were all over it!
After lunch, i figured I should find out what kind of big-moth it is. And w.h.o.l.l.y..c.r.a.p., i think it is THE largest moth on earth, the Atlas Moth. Now i was totally intrigued and had to read more. Oh what? it only lives in south east Asia (see reference)? How did it get to my backyard? DId I? Could I have brought it back from Asia when I was in Vietnam and Taiwan in March?! I don’t know!!! How did it get outside? Where was the cocoon? I had so many questions!
I was getting paranoid so HAD TO FIND SOMEONE. I eventually emailed someone at Queen’s Biology, and he got back to me suggesting that i need not to be too excited because the moth is probably a Cecropia moth, which is native but uncommon in urban area to North America. Well, now the mystery all made sense……… nothing so mysterious anymore. But check out this picture, it’s crazy how big the caterpillar is! 3/4 the length of a pop can? crazy…..
Here’re some pictures:
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