Head to head
Comet Moth vs Atlas Moth
Comet Moth
VS Atlas Moth
The comet moth and atlas moth are two of the largest moths in the world, both giant silk moths whose adults cannot feed and live only about a week.
| Comet Moth | Atlas Moth | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Argema mittrei | Attacus atlas |
| Size | A wingspan of around 20 cm, one of the largest silk moths | A wingspan of 24 to 30 cm, one of the largest wing areas of any moth |
| Distinctive feature | Males have hindwing tails that can reach about 15 cm, among the longest of any moth | Each forewing tip is marked and shaped to resemble a cobra's head, a possible predator deterrent |
| Colour | Bright yellow wings with a red-edged forewing and a transparent eyespot on each wing | Not specifically documented |
| Adult life | Has no functioning mouthparts and lives only about a week, on energy stored as a caterpillar | Lives about 5 to 7 days and emerges without a digestive tract, on fat stored as a caterpillar |
| Caterpillar | Feeds on rainforest trees and spins a silken cocoon in which it pupates | Eats citrus, cinnamon, and guava leaves, growing to about 12 cm, pale blue-green with a white waxy coating |
| Range | Rainforest in eastern Madagascar | Tropical and subtropical forests and scrub of South and Southeast Asia |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated, though it depends on a shrinking rainforest | Least Concern, with a stable population |
Comet Moth vs Atlas Moth: common questions
Which moth has the longer tails?
The comet moth, whose male hindwing tails can reach about 15 cm.
Which moth is bigger?
The atlas moth, with a wingspan of 24 to 30 cm, compared with around 20 cm for the comet moth.
Where do the comet moth and atlas moth live?
The comet moth lives in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar, while the atlas moth lives in the forests of South and Southeast Asia.