Invasive Atlas Moth Found In Bellevue

BELLEVUE, WA — State entomologists are asking residents to keep an eye out for an unexpected visitor after a professor reported what is believed to be the nation's first confirmed sighting of an invasive atlas moth.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture detailed the puzzling discovery in a blog post this month, asking residents to photograph, collect and report unusually large moths. The atlas moth is the world's largest and native to tropical regions, with wingspans as large as 10 inches.

Atlas moths are a federally quarantined pest, which makes it illegal to purchase or sell the moths in any form, from eggs to adults, without a permit.

“This is a ‘gee-whiz’ type of insect because it is so large,” said Sven Spichiger, WSDA's managing entomologist. “Even if you aren’t on the lookout for insects, this is the type that people get their phones out and take a picture of – they are that striking.”

The recent discovery started with a report from a University of Washington professor who reported the moth to state agriculture officials on July 7. Officials positively identified the atlas moth and received a second confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on July 27, marking the first positive detection in the nation.

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Investigators are still uncertain how the moth got to Washington, or if there might be others.

“This is normally a tropical moth,” Spichiger said. “We are not sure it could survive here. USDA is gathering available scientific and technical information about this moth and will provide response recommendations, but in the meantime, we hope residents will help us learn if this was a one-off escapee or whether there might indeed be a population in the area.”

Residents who think they've seen a similar moth can send in a photo with detailed information about its location to the state's pest program e-mail.