What is the primary reason for the comet moth's very brief adult lifespan?
Answer
It emerges lacking functional mouthparts and cannot eat
Like many large silkmoths in their final stage, the comet moth cannot feed upon emerging, relying entirely on energy accumulated during its larval stage, which dictates a lifespan of only a few days to about a week.
Related Questions
What anatomical feature gives the comet moth its descriptive common name?What is the typical maximum wingspan reached by the comet moth?What is the primary reason for the comet moth's very brief adult lifespan?To which scientific genus does the comet moth belong?Where is the comet moth endemic to?What is the hypothesized secondary function of the comet moth's long tails, besides sexual display?What is the likely evolutionary purpose behind the extreme development of the comet moth's tails?What does the specific epithet *mittrei* typically commemorate?What is the maximum reported length of the comet moth's trailing appendages?What requirement for successful captive breeding highlights the adult moth's dependency on its earlier life stage?