“How is the top one not a real snake? This moth would probably live longer if it didn’t look like I wanted to smack it with a broom,” another user chimed in.
Even though they look intimidating, Atlas moths are actually weak and wobbly fliers. They save energy by resting during the day and only take to the air at night.
When the Atlas moth feels threatened, it has a defense mechanism. It drops to the ground and starts wriggling around while flapping its wings in a particular way, mimicking a snake’s head, as the National History Museum has verified.