SUMMER: Actias maenas COCOONS

These moths are huge! Actias maenas, commonly referred to as the Malaysian moon moth, is a large and striking species of Saturniid moth found in parts of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and China. This moth is renowned for its impressive wingspan, which can reach up to 20 centimeters. It features distinct characteristics including its long, gracefully curved tails on the hindwings and intricate patterns that give it a disguise when at rest. Actias maenas is primarily active at night - the long tails direct noctural predators away from the body of the moth (predominantly bats using echolocation), in a similar way to lizard’s dropping their tails to escape. Its caterpillars are equally fascinating, showcasing a vibrant green body and growing extremely large. This species is a subject of interest for entomologists and hobbyists for obvious reasons!