I have got the rare scene of Giant atlas moth ( in malayalam "nisha shalabham" ) from my home premise at payyoli.. On seeing this creature i embarrassed because in my life it was the first time i witnessed this kind of large butterfly .. ( That time i called it as butterfly ) later i understood its a rare kind of moth species belongs to atlas moth family..
I called out ( Eureka, Eureka..) My mom and wife ran in to the sight and witnessed the scene.. I took my LG optimus phone and took its pics in different angles... But unfortunately i forgotten to take its video...that was a great blunder ....
On searching internet to know more about this species i found that it belongs to Atlas family ...
On searching internet to know more about this species i found that it belongs to Atlas family ...
{ The Atlas moth is a large saturniid moth found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, and is common across the Malay archipelago. Atlas moths are considered the largest moths in the world[2] in terms of total wing surface area, reaching upwards of c. 400 cm2 (62 sq in). Their wingspans are also amongst the largest, reaching over 25 cm (10 in). Females are appreciably larger and heavier than the males.
Atlas moths are said to be named after either the Titan of Greek mythology, or their map-like wing patterns. In Hong Kong the Cantonese name translates as "snake's head moth", referring to the apical extension of the forewing, which bears a more than passing resemblance to a snake's head }
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Kottayam is one of the best destinations of wild life sanctuaries in Kerala.
The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary was designed by Dr. Salim Ali, the renowned ornithologist . He is reported to have identified 167 birds and his student , Dr. Sugathan, 207. In addition, theBombay Natural History Society has identified 253 species here.
