8 Mesmerizing Facts About Marvellous Madagascar Bullseye Moth (Antherina suraka-VIDEO)
Most people usually think of moths as drab brown or gray winged creatures that batter themselves against the front porch light. But moths also come in an incredible array of colors, with patterns and designs on their wings that rival the most beautiful butterflies.
The Madagascar bullseye moth (Antherina suraka) is a species originating from who would have guessed Madagascar. It is often seen in butterfly houses and in the insect hobby scene, for the moths have a nice appearance and are easy to breed without a lot of effort and are willing to eat convenient plants. Both larvae and adults are variable, having multiple colour forms and variations. They have the ability to move their hindwings independently from their forewings if startled in order to show off their eyespots in a rocking motion, something that may startle or discourage predators from attacking them. The evolutionary lineage of Antherina suraka is relatively unique and seems to have split off from Bunaeini/Urotini when Madagascar broke free from the continent of Africa – it's only relative is Ceranchia apollina, that shares the same lineage and is regarded as a "cousin" of A. suraka. although yet very different in appearance and ecology. Photo Credit: Adam Gor (@goradam)