23 February 2011

Moon moth



This image, by Kevin MacKenzie at the University of Aberdeen, shows the scales on the wing of a moon moth (Argema mittrei). Native to the rainforests of Madagascar, the moth has no mouthparts: all its feeding is done at the caterpillar stage, and the adult moth lives for only a few days. Its long tail and spectacular wings have led this species to be known as the 'comet moth.'

And image of the whole creature is here.

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