A Yishun Park visitor was stunned to come across a group of \u201chuge\u201d caterpillars munching on plants and wondered if the unusual-looking insects could eventually eat their way through the park.<\/p>\n
Stomper Ilya <\/strong>spotted the caterpillars at Yishun Park on Aug 14, between 3pm and 6pm.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were huge. We have never seen caterpillars like this before in Singapore,\u201d Ilya told Stomp.<\/p>\n The caterpillars were seen feeding on plants, prompting Ilya to search online for more information.<\/p>\n The Stomper suspected the caterpillars could be Atlas Moth larvae<\/a>, whose adult moths<\/a> can grow to an impressive size.<\/p>\n The caterpillar appeared to be more than half the length of a phone.<\/p>\n PHOTO: STOMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI was worried that this huge species will eat the whole park,\u201d Ilya quipped.<\/p>\n When contacted by Stomp, the Entomological Network of Singapore (ENSING)<\/a> confirmed that the caterpillars are indeed the larvae of the Atlas Moth.<\/p>\n The moth is native to Singapore and is not considered rare or threatened locally. \u201cTheir apparent abundance can also be quite localised and episodic,\u201d added ENSING.<\/p>\n \u201cA suitable host tree may support several caterpillars at the same time, making them suddenly very conspicuous, while they may go largely unnoticed elsewhere,\u201d explained the society.<\/p>\n ENSING noted that Ilya\u2019s sighting of the caterpillars is reminiscent of a similar occurrence in 2017, when a large number of Atlas Moth caterpillars were seen feeding on a tree along Yishun Ring Road<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the previous observations from Yishun, it is interesting to see them turning up prominently in the area again almost a decade later,\u201d ENSING shared.<\/p>\n The society explained that the caterpillars are \u201cimpressive feeders\u201d that can consume a considerable amount of foliage<\/a> as they grow.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is part of their normal life cycle, particularly important because the adult Atlas Moth does not feed and instead relies on energy reserves accumulated during its larval stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Experts: Adult moths rely on energy gathererd from larval stage<\/h2>\n
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