Luminary Oddities · Natural history & art
Madagascan moon moth
Argema mittrei
Lepidoptera / Saturniidae
The Madagascan moon moth is a yellow silk moth with eyespots and exceptionally elongated red-and-yellow hindwing tails. Males carry slimmer tails and more feathery antennae than females.
Read the species account
At a glance
- Adult feeding ↘
- Adults do not feed [1]
Identity
Argema mittrei is the Madagascan moon moth, also called the comet moth, in Saturniidae. [1]
Morphology and identification
Yellow wings carry conspicuous eyespots; long red-and-yellow tails extend from the hindwings. Male tails are longer and narrower than female tails. The male’s antennae are also larger and more densely feathered. [1]
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs naturally in Madagascar. [1]
Life cycle
The caterpillar constructs a silvery, sac-shaped silk cocoon with numerous openings. The loose cocoon surrounds the pupa until adult emergence. [1]
Feeding and host plants
Adults do not feed. They live on energy accumulated during larval development. [1]
Behaviour
Females may remain near the cocoon after emergence. Males locate them using pheromones detected by their enlarged antennae. [1]
Nomenclature and history
Argema derives from Greek words referring to a speckled eye. The common name comet moth alludes to the elongated tails. [1]
Sources and further reading
- Spotlight: the Madagascan moon moth ↗
Emily Osterloff; Natural History Museum, London · Accessed 2026-10-11
Sources checked 2026-10-11. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
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