Creature Awaits #237

Each week I plan to feature an amazing creature, admiring God's fantastic artistry. Hopefully it’ll brighten someone’s day to see something new and interesting if they haven’t seen it before. : )

We continue this year's Christmas-time theme…"Peppermint" where we'll feature beautiful animals sporting Red and White. : )

(Beautiful photography by Vaikoovery (CC BY 3.0 Deed))

The Red Costate Tiger Moth

Scientific Name: Aloa lactinea

Region: Throughout southeast Asia

Size: About 1.6" (~40mm) long

Interesting Notes: Though destined to grow into a beautiful moth, sadly the caterpillar phase of this gorgeous insect is somewhat considered a pest - feeding on a variety of crops including coffee, sunflowers, sweet potatoes and beans.

🐛

A Red Tiger Moth! AKA Aloa lactinea 

Sturdy, fluffy, and that coloration is the spitting image of her beautiful white fur and striking yet elegant red markings!

Aloa lactinea

Posting separately because he's cute

(Creidt)

🦋 Red costate tiger moth 🦋 La aloa lactinea o polilla del tigre rojo es una polilla de la familia Erebidae. La especie fue descrita por primera vez por Pieter Cramer en 1777. Se encuentra en India, Japón, sur y oeste de China, Taiwán, Java, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Myanmar y Filipinas. . . . #butterfly #moth #polilla #acuarela #watercolorillustrations #watercolor_daily #illustration #scientificillustration #ilustracioncientífica #wildlifeonearth #wildlifewatercolor #wildlife #mariposario #retomariposario #retobertallonch https://www.instagram.com/p/B_IOap4jWB3/?igshid=1vnrxe9c812ot

Aloa lactinea (Red Costate Tiger Moth)

I have been told that this is a moth and would like to know what kind of moth it is.

That is a Creatonotos gangis! One of the scariest moths

Those things coming out of it are called claspers, male lepidopterans have them and they're made for attracting mates

They can also look like the tails on a luna moth or just a small opening near the lepidopterans' butt

So pretty much those are moth genitals that open up during mating season

But if you're asking about its species class it's a part of the Erebidae family

Also the same family of the Aloa lactinea, a very chunky fluffy moth.