Also known as the Emperor Moths, or Silkmoths these are the largest and most spectacular species of moth to be found in Hong Kong.
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Females are slightly larger, and can have a wingspan up to 25cm.
The atlas moth defends itself by imitating a snake’s appearance and even behaviour. It has a convincing pattern on its wings, and it will also fall to the ground and flap around to look like a writhing snake. These similarities are so striking that in China, the Cantonese name for this mighty moth translates to 'snake's head moth'
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_482f3b5995df4dd2ac3113a3a678d219~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_482f3b5995df4dd2ac3113a3a678d219~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_867d9fc2c260416cbca1a37c7521de4f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_867d9fc2c260416cbca1a37c7521de4f~mv2.jpg)
As well as their resemblance to a cobra's head, the moth gets its name because its wing patterns are said to resemble maps.
Here is its strange looking pupa, it wraps itself in a leaf cocoon, before making its pupa.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_05a344c17658439cb5960bf45e28d0e0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_220,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_05a344c17658439cb5960bf45e28d0e0~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_ec15d27ebc7f4f3d889d92e2f8ee9b68~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_103,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_ec15d27ebc7f4f3d889d92e2f8ee9b68~mv2.jpg)
Much more common is the Lesser Atlas Moth pictured to the right, which is somewhat smaller and with more rounded wings.