Hercules Moth

SPECIES Hercules Moth
TAXONOMY Coscinocera Hercules
STATUS Not Listed

Found only in Tropical North Queensland and New Guinea, the Hercules moth is among the world’s largest. In fact, in 1948 it was recorded in the Guiness Book of World Records as being the largest moth with a female recorded to have a wingspan of 36 cm. Typically they have a wingspan from 27 to 30 cm, with the females as a larger body size due to carrying up to 300 eggs. Both male and female moths have large brown wings that contain a triangular window and a white triangular edge. The males can be identified by having long tapered tails on the hindwings.

Lifecycle
Similar to many butterflies, the Hercules Moth undergoes a complete metamorphosis; including an egg, larval, pupa, and adult taking flight. Males do most of the flying and will locate a female based on her characteristic of emitting pheromones. 

Producing up to 300 ova, the female will glue the eggs to a leaf on a preferred food plant source. The eggs are orange in colour and similar in size to the head of a match. After 14 days, each egg will produce a single caterpillar.

Although seen on several rainforest trees, the recognised host plant for the larva is the Bleeding Heart tree (Omalanthus nutans); also known as the Native Poplar, or Queensland Poplar. The caterpillar will feed on leaves and continually shed its exoskeleton until it reaches full size over the course of three months. At full size, it has grown to an impressive 12 cm and a weight of 29 grams. It will have long yellow spikes protruding from a pale green, pudgy body. At the rear end they have two large false eyes to confuse potential attackers.

At this stage the caterpillar produces silk and spins a large cocoon which is attached to the food plant. The caterpillar will then retreat into the cocoon where it changes to a pupa. They have been known to stay in their cocoons from two months to two years. 

The adult female will emerge without mouth parts as her brief life does not include feeding. She has one purpose and that is to attract a male and lay her fertilised eggs on the host plant. The moth stage will end within 14 days.

Threats
Both the caterpillar and the adult moth are a food source for a wide variety of wildlife including other insects, frogs, toads, lizards, bats, and birds as a part of the ecological system. What has affected them more is the reduction of habitat from human encroachment. 

Updated 5 May 2021