Madagascan Sunset Moth
Chrysiridia rhipheus
The most beautiful insect
It is widely considered the most beautiful insect on Earth.
The "Non-Symmetry" Myth
To the human eye, the left and right wings look identical. However, because of the way the scales reflect light, the colors are rarely perfectly symmetrical at a microscopic level, making every moth a unique work of art.
The "Fake" Colours
If you were to grind up a Sunset Moth wing, it would turn into a dull brown powder. The "glowing" colors are actually optical illusions created by microscopic scales that bend light like tiny prisms.
Field notes
| Range | Madagascar |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 4 to 5 weeks as an adult; they are day-flying moths |
| Size | 7 cm to 11 cm (2.7 to 4.3 inches) wingspan |
| Weight | Approximately 0.2 g to 0.5 g |
| Colour | Iridescent Multicolour |
| Diet | Nectar |
| Family | A member of the Uraniidae family (Uraniid moths) |
In the book
The Madagascan Sunset Moth is number 86 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
