Brahmaea wallichii

Short description: Species of moth

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[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 , 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]

## Contents

* 1 Appearance
* 2 Etymology
* 3 Behavior
* 4 Habitat
* 5 Subspecies
* 6 References

## 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

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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.
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.

Wikidata ☰ Q528841 entry

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