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Arthur Anker via Flickr
Zoologist Arthur Anker's picture of a Venezuela poodle moth has captured the curiosity of Internet onlookers.
It's been compared to a fluffy dog, a Pokemon character and a Power Rangers villain — but whatever it is, the Venezuelan poodle moth has captured the Internet like Mothra in a bad Japanese movie. Now it's up to the experts to figure out exactly where this moth belongs on the tree of life.
The first thing to emphasize is that the poodle moth is no phony concoction like the jackalope, dogerpillar or chupacabra. Its cute, furry, scary look is totally in line with what's expected for a neotropical ornamental moth. In fact, cryptozoologist Karl Shuker found a similar picture of a white, fuzzy critter known as Diaphora mendica, or muslin moth, a member of the lepidopteran family Arctiidae.
The Venezuelan poodle moth is even more bizarre-looking than your run-of-the-mill muslin moth. That's largely due to the details that zoologist Arthur Anker of Brazil's Federal University of Ceara captured in the photograph he took in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela's Canaima National Park several years ago.
The nearly head-on perspective, without any sense of size scale, led my colleague Rosa Golijan to compare the bug to a Power Rangers villain — for example, Finster, the loyal servant of Rita Repulsa. However, if this showy critter is indeed a neotropical relative of the muslin moth, it's much more benign: Such moths feed on herbaceous plants and cause little trouble. They're also relatively small: The muslin moth's wingspan amounts to little more than an inch (28 to 38 millimeters, according to the UKmoths website).
Shuker would love to nail down the flying poodle's precise species name: "Is it indeed a member of Arctiidae, or are its taxonomic affinities elsewhere? Could it even be a species still undescribed by science? Thousands of new insects are discovered every year in the South American rain forests, so it would be by no means unusual if Art's Venezuelan poodle moth proved to be one, too," he wrote on the ShukerNature blog.
The fact that there are so many types of moths in the Arctiidae family — an estimated 11,000 species around the world, including 6,000 known species in the neotropical region — would make it tricky to classify this particular insect, unless there's an actual specimen in hand that can be sampled for genetic analysis. Nevertheless, we've put out our own inquiries with lepidopterists, and if we hear anything back on the bizarre case of the Venezuelan poodle moth, we'll let you know in an update.
More about bizarre bugs:
- Parasite named after reggae star Bob Marley
- World's biggest bug? That depends ...
- Monster bug? It's no joke
- Eight insects with the 'ick' factor
Tip o' the Log to GrindTV.
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
dude that's awesome!
Yes, I think I'm getting hypmotized! So cute and yet so strange.
pretty cool I gotta say ! Wish they were from my neighborhood .
Awesome, absolutely beautiful.
It looks like a silkworm moth, though it wasn't as furry, but still pretty!
Definitely unique, but I find it hard to think anyone would find this one 'frightening'.
No matter how much we think we know about this planet, every once in a while we get thrown a curveball...
That thing's cute as a bug can be.
Imagine what's lurking a couple miles down in the ocean, hiding in a cave, that we've yet to find...
It looks like it just stepped out of a Pokemon cartoon...
It's cool. The six foot wingspan has me concerned though.
Pretty cool, also pretty sad to see this rare specimen photographed on a rusted and corroded piece of metal. It's still alive largely due to the fact that a certain race hasn't determined that it would boost libido if they eat it. IMO
AAAAAHH!!! GET IT OFF!! GET IT OFF!!
Can't believe I had to add this just so I could use caps.
Sort of reminds me of a modern version of the RUSH "Fly By Night" Album cover, which happens to be my avatar...
That there is a chupacabra!
Freshly created in our cesspool of an environment.
Really cool - but is it a moth or a butterfly? Butterflies have verticle wings (that fold up on their back) and moths have lateral wings which fold flat on their back - this picture may show it about to take flight but butterflies fly in up/down wing motion and can glide - moths fly in a forward swim motion and have no ability to glide so they appear to move more sporatic and over shorter distances. Other than that looks like a moth but what a really beautiful creature!
Actually I don't see it as that. I see something ethereal and delicate, something untouched and unspoiled by man, sitting on top of a rusted corroded piece of man's creation. For me it's a testament to the fact that life WILL go on after man is gone, that humanity is but an eyeblink on the cosmic scale and there are other things out there.
That there are still mysteries out there waiting to be discovered; that in the end, although we act like the world has been given to us to use and abuse as we see fit, nature can still humble us and show us just how significant we actually are in the universal scheme of things. That this species has existed all this time without our knowing it, and seems to have done perfectly fine without human intervention or 'assistance'...
Coelacanth! I remember reading my Dad's National Geographic Magazine in the mid-80s when coelacanths were rediscovered after being thought to have gone the way of the dinosaur--I still remember feeling awed by the fact that this species has been around longer than man has...and I remember going to my Dad with the magazine and saying 'Instead of going to war, can you go find more of these?' (Dad was in the Army at the time.) Dad laughed at me, but the next subscription to the magazine came with my name on it.
And he reminded me of that comment years later when I told him I wanted to go into the military like he did...
It's a moth. Moths have the feathered antennae, and butterflies have antennae that are straight out on stalks. There's a scientific term for it that I don't remember at the moment but that's the distinguishing characteristic-the antennae.
This creature is amazing!... and the writter of this article needs to stop trying to figure out where it fits into the "TREE OF LIFE" and just state the obvious...
GOD CREATED IT...
IT DIDNT EVOLVE from some stupid bacteria over the last few billion years...
EVOLUTION = an adult fairytale...
Jonathan: wow just wow
I say a creature that looked a lot like this in my driveway (in Texas) If it's the same moth I wonder how it got there. It was beyond cute and when I posted a picture of it on Facebook everyone was wondering what it was. Now I'm wondering harder
I want to pet it. lol
Sorry Allan Boyle, I have great respect for you and your articles through out the history of MSNBC now NBC, but quietly frankly "Rosa Golijan" is not a college much less a writer. I wouldn't put her name in any real article. She is a shameful blogger that's being paid by apple to spam and tailor articles to promote apple and deceive consumers about apples competitors products. I am shocked she hasn't been fired yet! Again who cares right it's NBC's money at stake here not mine, when the FTC finally gets a hold of her apple propaganda stories.
Absolutely Captivating . . . Mothra has returned.
exactly what I saw...maybe the Japanese were inspired by this beautiful insect.
mothra o mothra!
That bug is so cute it's cuddleable! How could a cuddly-looking bug be frightening to anyone??
UFO's and Aliens ARE REAL
Can they be house trained?
Do they shed??
poodles really don't shed ....
I bet they are sweaty.
Sooo cute! :)
I think I saw one of these in Paris Hilton's purse!
So no one has an actual specimen, and there's no indication of it's actual size, so why are we supposed to believe that it's for real? Because you say it's for real? Not enough 'evidence' in my book!
Oooh! The birth of another conspiracy theory!
Now all we need is a motive.
Just as an side, taking someone's word has worked for religion... why can't it be good enough here? Ha. Lighten up, someone will get to the bottom of this. Don't be so angry seeming.
In a sense, that's right... As far as I know, the specimen was not collected, but it's really not that outlandish-looking for an ornamental moth. I talked with lepidopterist Robert Michael Pyle about this one and he agreed that it's for real, but the only other thing he said that there were tens of thousands of moth species and it'd be hard to narrow it down without more information. His thing is butterflies, however, and not so much moths. He did say he'd try to put me in touch with some moth specialists, and if I hear anything more, I'll update this item.
it does kinda look like someone twisted some pipe-cleaners together...
The details look too intricate to be faked. It actually looks quite natural if you look closely.
Anyway the photographer is no doubt a top guy in his field of nature photography and not likely to be faking photos.
what a distant perspective of nature is sent and received through this article, as with most controlled media. the program is so deep inside of you that most will experience a need to attack me although i have not attacked you, based solely on my opinion. i am simply pointing out the inadaquate language we use to educate ourselves on vital subjects (such as life). what kind of respected reporter would introduce this creature to his audience the way mtv would introduce a new celebrity sensation to the mix: on esthetics among other irrelevant values.
the next white furry prez.
With great power comes great responsibility. Whatever you do, don't give them water after midnight...
When battered and fried, tastes like snake.
great shot!
It's another damn BUG for crying out loud. How does this relate to the state of the world at this point in time -- except some scientist is still getting his government grant to study bugs?
I imagine 'a' response might be that the number and diversity of species across the globe are often used as an indicator of overall health of an environment, ecosystem, food chain, etc... I know they didn't mention it, but that is why it is so neat to see something new. It's also cool to see yet another species* that has managed to evade human contact and/or destruction for so long.
*pending specimen capture/verification
Ok mathuin, rather dense.
Ray gave you the friendly response, and I'll give you the logical one.
We'd all be dead if it wasn't for insects, and our knowledge of them is critical for survival.
The good ones pollinate plants, turn soil, etc.
The bad ones can destroy entire harvests.
The more we know about them, the bettter.
In a world in which so much death and entropy is happening, it's heartening to know that life still continues, particularly life untouched and unspoiled by Man.
It's amazing, the idea that something is only important insomuch as it relates directly to us and our problems.
So then you prefer all bad news and no good or fun news whatsoever? You've got to be kidding me. The state of this crazy world and the cranky, crude, sociopathic, and downright cruel human beings that live in it have introduced me to anxiety attacks. A cute little fuzzy moth gives me reason to smile. I'm not an ostrich, and I don't feel the need to put my head in the sand, but I'd prefer a couple of lumps of sugar in my bitter cup of life occasionally.
Mox, I loved your response. I am sure if you are looking for news on the state of the world it could be easily found. This is something different from the norm and I myself need that every so often. I get tired of reading about how many soldiers die, how our country is being threatened, or how a 16 year old killed a five year old child. This moth put a smile on my face, thanks MSNBC for something different.
What's wrong with stopping every now and then to appreciate the world we live in?
Agreed.. I'm no lover of insects, but this story is very interesting, and I find this moth to be adorable.. WIth all the rascism, politics and mundane day to day bore it's really nice to see something this lovely..
Entomology is fascinating even though there are some bugs I do not want to see -- ever.... But this one is cute...
wow.. looks very cool... where can I get one?
it's a nice looking moth... if a person wants to muse over a truly odd looking gnome, take a look at various species of insectivorous bats
It's adorable! I want one too. It reminds me of a hairy Stitch from Lilo and Stitch.
probably the origin of the fairies in mythology.
Woof!
No way is that thing real!
Looks chinese.
Racist
Looks like some sort of cross between Riley's lappet moth and a Tolype, from the family Lasiocampidae.
Exactly what I thought when I saw the picture.
Matt and gollie
you beat me to it.. i agree as well
Well, IMHO it is proof that God really does have a sense of humor. Doesn't she?
..until you consider the holocaust, or that damn asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs!
It's cute except for the big creepy eyes. I'm naming it Fido. :)
that's kind of adorable.
pretty amazing...creativity is infinite
Darwinian selection in the wild is infinite.
You evolutionists cant let someone make a comment about the splendor of a creator (as subdued of a comment that could be made by "just me") without elevating your negativity, could you? Someone must have done something really mean to you.
I don't see any negativity in Mikes post. Perhaps you simply view it as such as you're not versed in what it entails.
Thanks for the NBC news.com. for sending all news & articles..................good & advancing .com...........