Comet Moth

                                                                  Photo by Axel Strauss

Argema mittrei goes by a couple of names: The Comet moth, or the Madagascan Moon moth.  It is one of the world’s biggest moths, with male wingspan reaching a little over half a foot, while the tail length can reach up to half a foot.  This beautiful flyer of the night is similar in appearance to the Luna moth that inhabits large portions of North America. 

The Comet moth paints a striking picture.  It has large eyes on its fore and hindwings.  The Comet moth’s coloration ranges from soft yellow-green to a more neon shade of green, making them a lovely sight.  Two delicate tails resembling that of a kite extend from the moth’s hindwings and are capped by two “feet.”  Male and female moths are easy to tell apart, as male moths have much longer tails, giving them an overall slimmer appearance than the females.

                                                      Male (yellow) and Female (green) Comet Moth

The Comet moth only lives in Madagascar, and like so many of Madagascar’s indigenous species, the Comet moth is endangered.  Heavy deforestation is the main culprit.  Like all moths, the Comet moth begins life as a caterpillar, munching on eucalyptus leaves before spinning itself into a silvery silk cocoon where it stays for anywhere from two to six months.  The Comet moth’s cocoon is a unique home; it is perforated with holes so the moth doesn’t drown from the heavy humidity and rain of the rainforest.  This makes for ideal viewing of Comet moth pupae though.

After breaking its cocoon, the Comet moth has a life span that barely blips the age radar.  Four or five days is the norm.  To make matters more difficult, the only day the moth is fertile is the first day it is out of its cocoon!  Talk about procreative stress!  The reason for the moth’s short life span is because of its mouth−its mouth parts do not function, leaving them unable to eat after they pass the caterpillar stage.  This means the Comet moth has to live off its reserves from its pupae stage after it breaks free from its cocoon.  Of course, this has a major impact on the moth’s lifespan.

                                                            Comet Moth Cocoons

                                                          Photo by Mark Pellegrini

Despite the length of its life, the Comet moth still brightens and pretties up its habitat during its short time on earth.  To read about the Aye-aye of Madagascar, go here.