Hercules Moth

During out time in Cairns at The Tasman Caravan Park my brother and I found a Hercules Moth. They are the biggest moth in the whole world. They are incredibly beautiful and their pattern is amazing.

Diet:

As an adult, the Hercules moth does not eat. Their larvae will feed on the leaves of rainforest trees but loves to eat the leaves of the Bleeding Heart tree.

Distribution:

Hercules Moths occur in New Guinea and tropical Queensland

Breeding/Reproduction:

A single female Hercules moth can produce up to 300 ova (eggs). The female glues the eggs to the leaf. The eggs are small and orange in colour. Eggs take around 14 days to hatch. From each egg a single caterpillar will emerge. Then the caterpillar ate on the fresh leaves and then the caterpillar will continue feeding and shedding its exoskeleton till it reaches its full size. At this stage the caterpillar produces silk and spins a large cocoon which is attached to the food plant. The caterpillar will then retreat into the cocoon where it changes to a pupa from which a moth will emerge.

Adult males do most of the flying to find the adult females. To ensure males find the females, females emit a perfume type odour which is called pheromones. The male moths can smell these pheromones up to 2 kilometers away. The male will take flight, finding a female and mating takes place. We are unable to detect these moth pheromones.

Life Cycle:

The Hercules moth does not feed, it lacks any mouth parts. The moth stage only lasts for around 14 days. As a larva, it can live around 3 months.

Here are some videos about the Hercules moth to undertsand a bit more about it!