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Are Atlas moths popular with birds?

on 12th June 2012

Do birds eat Atlas moth (Attacus atlas)? An earlier post LINK reported a Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush (Garrulax mitratus) tackling an atlas moth. We have no other information.

Can it be that the Atlas moth scares away potential predators with its pair of eye spots at the apical extensions of the forewings? When disturbed, these end pieces vibrate, giving the illusion of a pair of snakes about to strike.

The eyespots also help deflect predators from targeting the body. This was exactly what happened a week ago when a male Atlas moth that newly emerged from its pupal case was placed in a tree in my garden. A curious Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) approached the moth and the latter vibrated its wings. The myna pecked on one of the eyespots and then left the moth alone, damaging the wing tip.

If anyone has any encounter with birds taking Atlas moths, we would be happy to post them here.

YC Wee
Singapore
June 2012

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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