BUTTERFLIES: THE MOTHS
Contrary to appearances, the majority of the species of butterfly are actually moths, most of them nocturnal, and belong to the order Heterocera which signifies antennae that are variable in form. Among the characteristics that distinguish them from the Rhopalocera (club-shaped antennae) are:
- crepuscular or nocturnal habits, although there are also diurnal species;
- less brilliant colouring, cryptic: by day the moths are inactive and the mimetic colouring is an obvious advantage to prevent them being disturbed during their repose. By night all the advantages of the bright colours so widespread in the diurnal animals are of little use;
- position of the wings in repose, in the resting posture the moth’s wings are arranged so as to cover the body horizontally.
- larger body size to preserve the heat produced with movement, which is important for the optimal functioning of the muscles in flight;
- differently shaped antennae, moths generally have comb-like or feathery antennae unlike those of butterflies which are club-shaped at the end.
THE SATURNIIDS
The largest moths in the world belong to this family, including the Attacus atlas from tropical Asia, also known as the Atlas Moth, named after either the Atlas of Greek mythology or their map-like wing patterns The adults have a rudimentary mouth and do not feed at all during their lives, which rarely arrives at one week. The caterpillar produces a large cocoon, and their silk is used locally to produce special fabrics.
