Giant moth swarms are invading Southeast Asia

Giant moths are making mass appearances in Malaysia and Singapore and no one knows exactly why. Scientific name Lyssa zampa, these insects are quite large, and the wingspan - extension from one wing tip to another - can reach more than 15 centimeters.

They are not venomous, and to date there is no information that they could bring disease, but there are so many giant moths in some Southeast Asian countries that thousands of them have even managed to stop a football match at Makmur Darul Stadium, at the end of may.

Mystic Swarms

These animals are received with curiosity by most people, especially the inhabitants of these regions, but there are many beliefs about them. The Malaysian newspaper The Star polled its Facebook fanpage, asking people what they thought was causing the phenomenon, and the responses were very superstitious.

“The older ones say it's someone visiting, ” said Olivia Airine Sue, alluding to the myth that moths are physical manifestations of departed loved ones. "Not a good omen, " said Tom Said.

"It must be a sign that bad things are about to happen, " commented user Vivien Wong. The population is divided between admiration and caution, and precisely because of these superstitions, it is a serious taboo to kill or disturb them.

Cause Theories

Moths usually come in summer, but rarely in large numbers. The last time there was such overpopulation was in 2005, almost 10 years ago. It is clear that moths are attracted by the city lights, but the reason for the current flood is still a mystery.

Some experts believe that their surplus this year is due to a lack of predators and parasites. Others say that the weather in 2014 has been particularly good for caterpillars. But in the end, there is no way to say for sure. And you, what do you think is causing this swarm of moths?