{{Short description|Species of moth}} {{Speciesbox | image = Argema mittrei male mounted.jpg | image_caption = Adult male | image2 = Argema mittrei female mounted.jpg | image2_caption = Adult female | taxon = Argema mittrei | authority = (Guérin-Méneville, 1847)<ref>{{cite web |last1=De Prins |first1=J. |last2=De Prins |first2=W. |name-list-style=amp |date=2018 |url=http://www.afromoths.net/species_by_code/ARGEMITT |title=''Argema mittrei'' (Guérin-Méneville, 1847) |website=Afromoths |accessdate=November 15, 2018}}</ref> | synonyms = * ''Argemma mittrei'' * ''Saturnia cometes'' <small>Boisduval, 1847</small> * ''Tropaea madagascariensis'' <small>Bartlett, 1873</small> * ''Actias idae'' <small>Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874</small> * ''Cometes madagascariensis'' * ''Actias mittrei'' * ''Bombyx mittrei'' <small>Guérin-Méneville, 1847</small> * ''Argema cometes'' <small>(Guenée, 1865)</small> * ''Argema idae'' <small>(Felder, 1874)</small> *'' Argema immaculata '' <small>(Bang-Haas, 1934)</small> * ''Argema madagascariensis'' <small>(Barlett, 1873)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbif.org/species/1867014|title= Argema mittrei Guérin-Meneville, 1846 |publisher=gbif.org |accessdate=December 8, 2019}}</ref> }}

The '''comet moth''' or '''Madagascan moon moth''' (''Argema mittrei'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magicoflife.org/butterfly_photos/Comet_Moth_Argema_mittrei.400.html|title=Comet moth|work=The Magic of Life Butterfly House|publisher=The Magic of Life Trust|accessdate=24 June 2010|location=Aberystwyth|archive-date=29 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029111327/http://www.magicoflife.org/butterfly_photos/Comet_Moth_Argema_mittrei.400.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a moth native to the rain forests of Madagascar. The species was first described by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1847. The adult moth cannot feed and only lives for 4 to 5 days. Although endangered in the wild due to habitat loss, the comet moth has been bred in captivity.<ref name="Clemson">{{cite web|url=http://entweb.clemson.edu/museum/moths/exotic/moth6.htm|title=''Argema mittrei''|last=Rollison|first=Emily|author2=Thackston, James|year=2003|work=Clemson University Arthropod Collection|publisher=Clemson University|accessdate=24 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607145004/http://entweb.clemson.edu/museum/moths/exotic/moth6.htm |archive-date=7 June 2011}}</ref> The genus name ''Argema'' is Greek for "speckled eye" referencing the abundance of eyespots on their wings, warding off predators.

== Physical features == There are physical differences among females and males. Females have more rounded wings. The male has a wingspan of 20&nbsp;cm (7.9 inches) and a tail span of 15&nbsp; cm (5.9 inches), making it one of the world's largest silk moths. The males have long, feathery antennae and the females have thin antennae. ''Argema mittrei'' wings have large eyespot, giving the appearance of a large and dangerous creature that should not be attacked.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.mothidentification.com/comet.htm|title=Comet Moth (Argema mittrei) |website=Moth Identification|date=21 September 2020 |access-date=2022-05-08}}</ref>

== Host plants == Host plants include the genus Eugenia and Weinmannia, as well as Eucalyptus gunnii and Liquidambar.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://reimanbutterfly.com/butterfly/Argema%20mittrei|title=Argema mittrei, Madagascar Moon Moth or Giant Comet Moth |website=Reiman Gardens|access-date=2022-05-03}}</ref> Other host plants they are reared to are Eugenia cuneifolia, Sclerocarya birrea, Weinmania eriocampa, Rhus cotinus, Schinus terebinthifolia, and Schinus molle.<ref name=":0" /> Additional host plants are ''Cotinus coggygria'', ''Eucalyptus gunnii'', ''Malosma laurina'', ''Pistacia terebinthus'', ''Pistacia lentiscus'', ''Rhus copallinum'', ''Rhus typhina'', ''Schinus molle'', ''Schinus terebinthifolius'', ''Toxicodendron pubescens'', ''Mimosa'' species and ''Liquidambar styraciflua''.<ref name=":0" />

== Life Cycle ==

=== Eggs === Anywhere from 100 to 150 eggs are laid by a single adult female moth after fertilization.<ref name=":2" /> An egg hatches 10-20 days after it is laid.<ref name=":0" />

=== Caterpillar === After hatching, caterpillars grow and develop over a two month period. At maturity, they will turn bright green in color.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=sipa |first=Masika |date=2015-06-18 |title=A short, but colorful life – The Madagascan moon moth |url=https://www.madamagazine.com/en/ein-kurzes-buntes-leben-der-kometenfalter/ |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=MADAMAGAZINE |language=en-US}}</ref> In the wild, they feed on the genus Eugenia and Weinmannia, as well as Eucalyptus gunnii and Liquidambar.<ref name=":1" />

=== Pupa === The mature caterpillar spins a silk cocoon in which to pupate, where it spends five to six months developing into an adult.<ref name=":3" /> The surface of an ''Argema mittrei'' cocoon is covered in holes, which are theorized to allow rainwater to drain out, preventing the insect from drowning.<ref name=":2" />

=== Adult === The adult moth lacks a functioning digestive system, limiting its lifespan to six to eight days in which to find a mate after emerging from its cocoon.<ref name=":2" /> As nocturnal insects, adults are active mainly during the night.<ref name=":3" /> Females remain mostly stationary as adults, waiting for a male to locate her. Males will locate a mate by using their wide, feathery antennae to detect a female's pheromones.<ref name=":2" /> After fertilization, a female will spend each remaining night of her life searching for host plants on which to lay her eggs.<ref name=":1" />

== Ultrasound == Moths and bats have been in a coevolutionary arms race due to bats developing echolocation. However, moths have developed methods to avoid detection from the echolocation cries of bats and to promote survival once detected. For ''Argema mittrei'', they have the ability to use ultrasound absorption so that the bat will receive a dampened echo, making the moth invisible to the bat. Using ultrasound absorption is ''Argema mittrei'' main defensive function. It also has other defensive roles such as crypsis, aposematism, or mimicry.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://journals.biologists.com/bio/article/6/1/109/1168/The-anti-bat-strategy-of-ultrasound-absorption-the|title=The anti-bat strategy of ultrasound absorption: the wings of nocturnal moths (Bombycoidea: Saturniidae) absorb more ultrasound than the wings of diurnal moths (Chalcosiinae: Zygaenoidea: Zygaenidae)|date=2016 |publisher=The Company of Biologists Ltd|doi=10.1242/bio.021782 |access-date=2022-04-27 |last1=Ntelezos |first1=Athanasios |last2=Guarato |first2=Francesco |last3=Windmill |first3=James F.C. |journal=Biology Open |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=109–117 |pmid=27913454 |doi-access=free |pmc=5278430 }}</ref> It also has a striking long, red and yellow tail which is used in defense against attackers.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/spotlight-madagascan-moon-moth.html|title=Spotlight: the Madagascan moon moth|website=NationalHistoryMuseum|access-date=2022-05-03}}</ref>

== Gallery == <gallery> File:Argema mittrei 02.JPG|Head of comet moth File:Komeetstaartvlinder 04.JPG|Adult on cocoon File:Argema mittrei (caterpillar).jpg|Caterpillar File:Argema mittrei (eggs).jpg|Cocoons and eggs </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar |from=Q2216327}}

Category:Saturniinae Category:Wild silk Category:Endemic insects of Madagascar Category:Moths of Madagascar Category:Moths of Africa Category:Moths described in 1847 Category:Taxa named by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville