Tag Archive for south african moths

Did You Know – Heady Maiden Moth

Lacey / November 30, 2011 / No comments

Find below our latest factsheet on the Heady Maiden moth
-Heady Maiden Moth -Scientific name: amata cerbera -Identification: Blackish blue wings with transparent spots. Body is a blue/green with red or orange bands. Usually 4 bands. -Male and female: Similar markings on male and female -Body length: One of the smaller moths - 30mm body length -Behaviour: Sluggish, slow flying day fliers. -Food: Adult moths do not need to eat as they obtain most of the food they need as caterpillars and breed quickly. They do however drink.Some with working proboscis (mouth-piece like a straw) suck nectar from plant flowers and tree sap. Larvae feeds on various leaves, flowers, and fruit dependant on region. -Larvae: Larvae have been found in various places from grass to Coffee. -Communicate: Communicate with chemical signals -Habitat: Succelent Karoo to Sub-tropical Forest -Distribution: Eastern Coast of South Africa extending up to Mozambique and as far inland as Swaziland. -Predators: Varied predators from Chameleons to birds. Roughly summarised to 'anything that can catch them'. Parasitic wasps kill eggs. -Did You Know: - The genus name amata means loved : Butterflies have straight antenna whilst moths have ones that resemble TV aerials to help them fly at night : Unlike m

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