A University of Washington professor initially reported a sighting of the atlas moth, which can have a wingspan of up to nearly 10 inches, in Bellevue on July 7.
Theresa Robinson, KIRO 7 NewsBELLEVUE, Wash. — State agriculture officials and entomologists are asking the public to be on the lookout for the world’s largest-known moth after one was seen in Bellevue last month.
A University of Washington professor initially reported a sighting of the atlas moth, which has a wingspan of up to nearly 10 inches, to the Washington State Department of Agriculture on July 7. Once WSDA entomologists identified it as an atlas moth, they sent it to the USDA, who confirmed the specimen as an atlas moth on July 27.
“This is a ‘gee-whiz’ type of insect because it is so large,” said Sven Spichiger, WSDA managing entomologist. “Even if you aren’t on the lookout for insects, this is the type that people get their phones out and take a picture of — they are that striking.”“This is normally a tropical moth. We are not sure it could survive here,” Spichiger said.
The moths do not pose a public health threat and can safely be photographed, handled and collected, according to the WSDA.for identification and include the location where it was spotted.
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