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Bizarre insect in Indonesia goes viral
A man in Indonesia posted a picture and video of a strange insect, which was later identified as a Creatonotos gangis moth. The images were shared more than 200,000 times on Facebook. (Heri Sukmana)
What has six legs, two antennae, four furry appendages sprouting from its backside — and a big chunk of the Internet freaked out?
The world's most viral and terrifying moth.
A man in Indonesia posted a picture and video of the insect on Facebook last week, drawing more than 40,000 comments, many from people expressing alarm and asking astute questions, such as: “What wizardry is this?”
Relax.
Gary Hevel, a researcher with the department of entomology at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, said the insect is known as a Creatonotos gangis moth.
Hevel said in an email to The Washington Post that the moth in the video appears to be using its scent glands — those strange little tentacles — to attract a mate.
He said the glands, which are in the moth’s abdomen, are typically deflated.
The moths are found across Southeast Asia and parts of Australia, according to an online database, which states: