Spiked White. Attacus atlas, Atlas Moth, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Its lifespan is about 75 days... only during a mere 6 does it manifest as that great Atlas Butterfly, Attacus atlas. Most of its life is in various stages from egg to caterpillar, pupa, and only finally in the Flighty Form. Earlier I posted a 'late' caterpillar I saw in Kuala Lumpur (www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/6563518879/in/photolis...).
Great Linnaeus knew it as a Phalaena atlas. 'Attacus' was given to our Butterfly by Jacob Hübner in 1816. Somehow he may have derived that name from the biblical book Leviticus (11.22) where the word in the (Greek) Septuagint and the (Latin) Vulgate is used for a giant locust. Atlas, of course, is the 'World-carrier'. Here in the photo is an early instar (eight days or so) photographed from the top and its side (see inset).
Spiked White. Attacus atlas, Atlas Moth, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Its lifespan is about 75 days... only during a mere 6 does it manifest as that great Atlas Butterfly, Attacus atlas. Most of its life is in various stages from egg to caterpillar, pupa, and only finally in the Flighty Form. Earlier I posted a 'late' caterpillar I saw in Kuala Lumpur (www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/6563518879/in/photolis...).
Great Linnaeus knew it as a Phalaena atlas. 'Attacus' was given to our Butterfly by Jacob Hübner in 1816. Somehow he may have derived that name from the biblical book Leviticus (11.22) where the word in the (Greek) Septuagint and the (Latin) Vulgate is used for a giant locust. Atlas, of course, is the 'World-carrier'. Here in the photo is an early instar (eight days or so) photographed from the top and its side (see inset).