Have You Seen This Destructive Gigantic Moth in Washington State?

The Non-Native Atlas Moth Is Destructive In Washington State

There's one gigantic moth that the Washington State Department of Agriculture wants you to keep your eyes out for.

Atlas Moths Can Have A Wingspan Of 10 Inches

If you see this gigantic moth, the WSDA is asking you to report it. In a press release, the WSDA says that most people are inclined to snap a picture of the Atlas Moth but it's also one of those invasive species that needs to be reported to the WSDA

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According to an article from Q 13, an Atlas Moth was found in a Bellevue garage on July 7th. The found Atlas Moth is featured below:

If You See An Atlas Moth, The WSDA Is Asking You To Report It

This is the first reported sighting of the Atlas Moth in Washington State and for that matter, the entire United States.

The Atlas Moth is the largest known moth in the world and is also classified as a federally quarantined pest, which means it is illegal to obtain, harbor, rear, or sell live moths whether adults, eggs, larvae, or pupae without a permit from the USDA. 

The good news is that the Atlas Moth does not pose a health risk but is on the WSDA's most wanted list of evasive species.

We've included some normal pictures of regular moths so you can visually see how different the Atlas Moth is. It's a massive moth so it should be easy to spot if you see it.

The Washington State Department Of Agriculture is asking you to report the Atlas Moth if you see it, you can reach the WSDA at pestprogram@agr.wa.gov for identification.

You can read more details about the Atlas Moth here.