Noklak, August 22 (MExN): A nocturnal moth species, the Endangered Madagascan Moon Moth was spotted in Nagaland’s newly-created district, Noklak, on August 21.
According to a DIPR report, the moth was sighted on Friday during the dedicatory programme of newly constructed Deputy Commissioner Office chamber.
Native to the Madagascar rain forest in East Africa, the comet moth or Madagascan moon moth (Argema mittrei) is endangered in the wild due to habitat loss. But it has been bred in captivity.
It is one of the largest silk moths in the world. The male has a wingspan of 20 cm and a tail span of 15 cm and can be distinguished from the females which have broader and rounder wings and much shorter tail.
The female lays around 120 – 170 eggs and after hatching, the larvae feeds for approximately two months before pupating. Like all insects, Madagascan moon moth has a lot of natural enemies like chameleons, birds etc.
Only few succeed in passing a long way to the adult moth, which also has a short life span of not more than five or six days.
Madagascan Moon Moth is spotted occasionally due to the common rearing of silk moth in the region which also has a large forest area, as per the DIPR report.
The region also has an Indo-Myanmar hotspot which has a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, the report added.
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