South Asian Sphinx Moth

Amplypterus panopus

Description:

A widespread moth species in South Asia, Amplypterus panopus is easily identified with the sufficient references found in the Internet. May be mistaken as A. mansoni except that this species is more colorful as you can see. Hindwings show bright pink patches. The central body of this hawk moth is nearly 5cm long, Wingspan: 130--168mm. Less timid towards human compared to other moths.

Habitat:

Forests of Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia.

Notes:

One of the interesting larger moths that is found in Kundasang. All these photographs except the last one is taken by my dad. I spotted it at night but my father took photographs of it it the morning in the same area. >>>Map accuracy : 10m diameter.

Species ID Suggestions

18 Comments

ChunXingWong 6 years ago

Something like that. It is attracted to building lights.

Roman Nenashev 6 years ago

Great hawk moth! Attracted by street lights?

YukoChartraw 11 years ago

Gorgeous moth!

ChunXingWong 11 years ago

Thank you Nexttogone.

nexttogone 11 years ago

This is an amazing series. Nice find.

Uday 11 years ago

welcome! :)

ChunXingWong 11 years ago

Thank you too Chief and Uday.

Uday 11 years ago

great series ChunXingWong!
btw happy b'day :)

ChunXingWong 11 years ago

Thanks Shekainah for your comment.
I will stick to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution which this moth gained it's beauty through millions of years of evolution.

shekainah d. alaban 11 years ago

With due respect to the great physicist Stephen Hawking, but I disagree with him when he said that life exist by random chances and without any ultimate significance or meaning. How then could this BEAUTY exist by chance?

ChunXingWong 11 years ago

Thanks Smith'sZoo, Harsuame and JuanDiTrani.
I thought that it's bright red hindwings act as warnings.

rutasandinas 11 years ago

Hermosa::

Juan DiTrani 11 years ago

Hi Chun. The Mission "Animals with Warning Colors" is aimed to animals who warn predators they have chemical or structural defenses. Despite this is a colorful animal, it doesn´t fit the mission, so i will have to remove it. Maybe you can consider entering the spot in Mimetic Animals mission, since most of the body colors are cryptic.