Brahmaea wallichii

Brahmaea wallichii
Subspecies B. w. insulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Brahmaeidae
Genus:	Brahmaea
Species:	B. wallichii
Binomial name
Brahmaea wallichii Gray, 1831[1]
Synonyms
Bombyx wallichii Gray, 1831 Brahmaea conchifera Butler, 1880[2] Brahmophthalma wallichii

Brahmaea wallichii also known as the owl moth, is a moth from the family Brahmaeidae, the Brahmin moths, and one of its largest species. It is found in the north of India, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Taiwan and Japan. The owl moth is nocturnal.^[3] The wingspan is about 90–160 millimetres (3 ¹⁄₂–6 ¹⁄₄ inches).^[4]

Appearance

The moth has well developed eye spots on the front wings and a characteristic pattern of black-brown stripes. The light-brown margins of the back wings display small triangular white spots. The robust body is also black and brown, with characteristic orange-brown stripes.^[4]

Etymology

The species is named after the botanist Nathaniel Wallich.

Behavior

The larvae feed on Fraxinus excelsior, Ligustrum and common lilac. In captivity they also feed on elderberry.^[4] They are able to neutralize plant toxins produced by Ligustrum.^[5]

The moths are active at night; during daytime, they rest with outpread wings on tree trunks or on the ground. When disturbed, the moth does not fly away, but fiercely shakes.^[4]

Mounted pair

Habitat

The habitat is both tropical and temperate forests.^[4]

Subspecies

• Brahmaea wallichii wallichii
• Brahmaea wallichii insulata Inoue, 1984 (Taiwan)
• Brahmaea wallichii saifulica de Freina, 1983 (western Himalaya)

References

1. Gray, J.E. (1831): Description of a new species of Bombyx from Nepaul, discovered by Dr. WALLICH. — The Zoological Miscellany (London), 1, 1831: 39. scan
2. Savela, Markku (November 24, 2002). "Brahmaea genus". funet.fi. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
3. Carter, David (2002). Butterflies and Moths (Second ed.). United States: Dorling Kindersley. p. 304. ISBN 0-7894-8983-X.
4. Carter, David J. (1993). Vlinders (translated book) [Butterflies] (in Dutch) (First (translated) ed.). Baarn: Bosch & Keuning. p. 216. ISBN 90-246-4923-4.
5. Kotaro Konno, Sachiko Okada and Chikara Hirayama (2001). "Selective secretion of free glycine, a neutralizer against a plant defense chemical, in the digestive juice of the privet moth larvae". Journal of Insect Physiology. 47 (12): 1451–1457. doi:10.1016/S0022-1910(01)00135-4.