Silk Moth Antennae
The moth members of this Order of insects include a large number of diverse families. Moth groups include micro moths, leaf miners, clothes moths, plume moths, ermine moths, burnets, geometrids, silk moths, sphinx moths, tiger moths, wasp moths, noctuids, underwings and many others.
Male antennae are sensitive chemoreceptors, combing out pheromone molecules from the female. Wild silk moths can become very large and extremely hairy. This same evening in Indonesia attracted a huge Atlas moth which is related to this silk moth and took my breath away as its enormous wingspan almost defied its ability to fly. Silk cocoons spun by wild silk moths can be quite durable if kept dry and form naturally compact and strong containers. Indigenous people in North America, Mexico and Africa have used these natural containers for a variety of purposes including hand and ankle rattles.