A seriously creepy insect looking like a moth-caterpillar-worm hybrid found in Australia and Indonesia has left people horrified.
Footage of the strange insect, filmed in Indonesia and uploaded to Facebook by a profile by the name of Gandik, has been viewed more than 37 million times since Thursday.
One viewer said it is ‘definitely a suicide spider moth demon’ and another said it was a ‘rare Pokemon’ – but as you’ve probably guessed, it’s neither of those things.
The insect is actually a Creatonotos gangis moth and those unusual tentacles you see are scent organs.
These scent organs – or eversible coremata as they’re technically known – emit pheromones in order for the moth to attract mates.
Information about the species on Coffs Harbour Butterfly House reads:
The adult moth of this species has brown forewings, each with a broken dark streak. The hindwings are white. The abdomen is red or sometimes yellow.
The males have four eversible coremata at the tip of the abdomen which emit pheromones, each when inflated is longer than the abdomen. The moths have a wingspan of about 4 cms.
Feeling like I’ve gone all David Attenborough on you, the moths are found across Australia’s north, including Western Australia, the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland.
Those commenting on the post seemingly didn’t give a rats about what the creature was, instead they let the dramatics get the better of them.
One said: ‘I would literally burn the house down if I saw this.’ Another added: ‘Give him the keys and tell him the house is yours.’
‘What devilish creature sent to destroy us is this? I’m leaving Earth by the way… anyone coming?’ said somebody else in the comments.
While you won’t expect to see a Creatonotos gangis living in the wild in the UK, moths the size of a normal human hand are making their way over apparently.
Wildlife and bug lovers have been encouraged to look out for the migration of rare moths that are on their way from overseas
There are various breeds making their way to shore and those who spot them have been encouraged to report any sightings to their local conservationists.
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Among the rare moth breeds is the silver-striped hawk moth, the hummingbird hawk moth and the giant convolvulus hawk moth – whose wingspan spreads to more than 10 centimetres.
According to the Butterfly Conservation, you can find these moths near plants of ivy as they feed on the blossoms which flower late in the year.
Speaking to The Mirror, Richard Fox, head of recording for the Butterfly Conservation said:
A quick check of ivy blossom on a sunny autumn day will reveal bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other insects, all making the most of this seasonal bonanza of nectar.
After dark, the pollinator nightshift takes place and a myriad of moths come out to feed.
For this year’s Moth Night, find some big patches of ivy flowers nearby and go back with a torch after the sun has set.
It’s a fantastic and easy way to see some of the beautiful moths that are on the wing in autumn
No, and no from me.
