Thread: Thai Butterfly Photos

Mothra! 25 cm wingspan when relaxed.
This monster was sitting on the road on my soi. It's still alive but probably dying as it doesn't fly away, just flaps it's wings weakly.
It looks like a larger version of the moths that lay eggs in mangoes in Fiji. Ruin a whole tree full of fruit. There's a mango tree and a fruiting sakon tree above where I found it, so I wonder if it's the same sort of pest.

I might try to preserve this specimen. Any advice, please?

It is an Atlas moth, Attacus atlas. Apologies but I can't link to the wiki page from my mobile.

If you search for: How to pin butterflies and moths, you will find some youtube videos and a pdf that will explain.

If it'e really that big, you might want to use a nail.

Originally Posted by charleyboy

If it'e really that big, you might want to use a nail.

Yep, that's why I put a ruler in the photo.

Originally Posted by Troy

It is an Atlas moth, Attacus atlas. Apologies but I can't link to the wiki page from my mobile.

If you search for: How to pin butterflies and moths, you will find some youtube videos and a pdf that will explain.

Thanks Troy. You are right.

Attacus atlas (Atlas moth) is a large saturniid moth found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, and is common across the Malay archipelago.[1]

Atlas moths were often considered the largest moths in the world in terms of total wing surface area,[2] but recent sources confer this title upon the Hercules Moth from New Guinea and northern Australia.[3][4] Their wingspans are also among the largest, reaching over 25 cm (9.8 in). Females are appreciably larger and heavier than the males.

White Commodore



Looks to be one of the Awlets but dont know which.

Two from Thai Prachan National Park 26/6/17



Black Vained Sargent.



Looks like one of the Saturn's but not in my little book.

Originally Posted by birding

I think this may be a White Tiger Moth: One of the sub-species of Nyctemera coleta: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyctemera_coleta or a species that mimics this, such as one from the Zygaenidae family: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zygaenidae

Only guesses ...

3 from Thap Lan NP 12 July 2017



Straight Pierrot.




Great Mormon.




Dont know what this is looks like a Baron or Viscount but not in my book.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Mothra! 25 cm wingspan when relaxed.
This monster was sitting on the road on my soi. It's still alive but probably dying as it doesn't fly away, just flaps it's wings weakly.
It looks like a larger version of the moths that lay eggs in mangoes in Fiji. Ruin a whole tree full of fruit. There's a mango tree and a fruiting sakon tree above where I found it, so I wonder if it's the same sort of pest.

The photo remind me of my childhood. Sometimes, in the garden there was that big monster. My dad told me that is the "Attacus atlas", it often lay eggs on the starfruit tree. That was long time ago when i was a kid.
It's has been a very long time, i haven't seen that kind of butterfly anymore.
Your photo is awesome, Maanaam. Thanks much ! I love it.

it also lay eggs on lay with mayo

Originally Posted by birding

How interesting. I snapped a butterfly today and I didn't know what it was but it is exactly the same as that one ^ so now I know.

Another thing that's interesting is that it was sitting on the same kind of leaf.

Took this last month, maybe the same above..Hey we have a hatrick

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Took this last month, maybe the same above..Hey we have a hatrick

A little tattered but for sure one of the spotted flats, possibly Common or Bengal Spotted Flat.

Keep them coming and the birds and flowers.

Two from Phu Suan Sai NP 10/10/17



Autumn leaf inside.



Autumn Leaf outside.



Common Bluebottle.

Another from Phu Ruea NP



Red-base Jezebel

Another from Phu Ruea NP, Red Lacewing. I think this would be a male.

Yet another from Phu Ruea NP. Golden Birdwing on the wing.

These never seem to land but hover over a flower while feeding.

On its' last legs I'm afraid

There haven't been many new butterflies around to take photos this time around. The days have been very windy and cool, and it's the dry season so not much of a surprise. I still haven't managed to photo the birdwings that fly by. They never stop to feed in my garden so I'll have to find some good food plants for them.

I had a Giant redeye (Gangara thyrsis) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangara_thyrsis fly into the kitchen for a pose and then shoot off again:


Another large moth, the Walker's Owl moth (Erebus macrops) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erebus_macrops, also came up to the house one morning a couple of days ago:

Two December 17



Tailed Judy from Doi Sam Muan Doi Phu Hom Pok NP



Common Earl from Mae Moei NP