Brahmaea wallichii

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

Short description: Species of moth

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 , Nepal, 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 the daytime, they rest with outspread 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

↑ 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
↑ Savela, Markku (November 24, 2002). "Genus Brahmaea". funet.fi. http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/bombycoidea/brahmaeidae/brahmaea/index.html. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
↑ Carter, David (2002). Butterflies and Moths (Second ed.). United States: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 304. ISBN 0-7894-8983-X.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 Carter, David J. (1993) (in nl). Vlinders (translated book) (First (translated) ed.). Baarn: Bosch & Keuning. pp. 216. ISBN 90-246-4923-4.
↑ Kotaro Konno; Sachiko Okada; 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. PMID 12770151.

Wikidata ☰ Q528841 entry

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Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaea wallichii. Read more

[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). "Genus Brahmaea". funet.fi. http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/bombycoidea/brahmaeidae/brahmaea/index.html. Retrieved 2009-03-09.

[3] Carter, David (2002). Butterflies and Moths (Second ed.). United States: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 304. ISBN 0-7894-8983-X.

[Carter1993-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 Carter, David J. (1993) (in nl). Vlinders (translated book) (First (translated) ed.). Baarn: Bosch & Keuning. pp. 216. ISBN 90-246-4923-4.

[5] Kotaro Konno; Sachiko Okada; 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. PMID 12770151.

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