July 17, 2024, 6:32 am | Read time: 6 minutes
When it comes to seeing a moth inside the home, most people probably think of finding one in their clothes or food. But there are also very beautiful and colorful ones that are becoming an increasingly popular choice as pets. PETBOOK editor and biologist Saskia Schneider wanted to find out what this new trend is all about.
How would you react if your best friend told you they were keeping moths as pets? Or perhaps you’re an insect enthusiast yourself? Stick insects, praying mantises, and even cockroaches are no longer creatures enjoyed solely by entomologists—those who study insects.
The latest trend is palm-sized, colorful moths. These moths are becoming increasingly visible on platforms like Instagram. But what is appealing to people about keeping and laboriously raising moths that only live for a few weeks or days?
What are moths?
We generally refer to insects from various groups of butterflies as moths. These include moths such as hawkmoths, geometer moths, and owlet moths, as well as the so-called ‘true moths,’ known scientifically as tineids. The latter include more than 2000 species worldwide. In the United States, they are primarily known as pests in food or clothing.
However, the colorful, almost palm-sized moths that we see more and more often on social media are mostly different representatives of the butterfly family, which are commonly referred to as moths because of their appearance.
The only thing they have in common is that they belong to the so-called holometabolous insects. This means that they start their life as an egg, from which a larva then hatches, becoming what we call a caterpillar. This eventually pupates, and the moth emerges from the cocoon.
Why are moths so popular as pets?
Like butterflies, moths also come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. In addition to the considerable size that some specimens reach, many people also find their “faces” cute: fuzzy heads with large, black beady eyes and wide antennae that look like rabbit ears.
The caterpillars, which are who you have to deal with if you want to keep moths as pets, also impress with their great colors and shapes. Depending on the species, they can change their appearance several times, depending on their stage of development.
Unlike dogs and cats, moths do not require much food, space, or care. Many people are also fascinated by their development. If you want to keep moths, you first have to raise caterpillars. This requires a lot of patience. Some species take months to turn into colorful moths. When they finally hatch, it’s like Christmas for moth fans! 1
Which moth species are suitable as pets?
In general, you can keep any species of moth if you meet their natural requirements. However, the particularly colorful and large specimens are preferred as pets. Many of them belong to the peacock moth group.2
With a wingspan of up to 25 centimeters (about 9.8 inches), these nocturnal moths are absolute eye-catchers. They come in a wide variety of colors. What they all have in common are the eyespots on their wings. The adult moths can survive without food and live for several weeks.
A particularly popular peacock moth is the “Rosy Maple Moth” (Dryocampa rubicunda). The name says it all: the species has a yellow to white base color with a pink pattern and lives in North America. Its unmistakable appearance makes it the perfect star for Instagram. But peacock moths such as the Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) or the Luna moth (Actias luna) are also popular pets.
What do moths need?
Even though moths are considered to be low-maintenance pets, there are still a few things to consider if you want the caterpillars to eventually become beautiful moths. Start with their housing.
Most people start with caterpillars, and they have only one thing on their minds: eating. All you need to make the insects happy is a sufficiently large container and the right food plant. Depending on the species, caterpillars eat different plants or specialize in just one. So you need to find out in advance.
To ensure that the caterpillars grow quickly, you should always provide fresh greenery and adjust the size of the container if necessary. A fully equipped terrarium is not necessary for this. A simple plastic container that is ventilated will do the job. It is important that plants or branches are available for the last caterpillar stage for them to attach their cocoon.
Refrigerator and flight tent
The cocoons can take several weeks or months to hatch. Some moths only develop over the winter. This must then be simulated for the insects with the help of the refrigerator. So if you want to keep moths as pets, you must be able to live with cocoons in the fridge — this also applies to roommates in the household.
For hatching, the moths should be provided with a kind of flight tent or a sufficiently large container in which they can unfold their wings undisturbed. Freshly hatched, these are still quite crumpled. The insects must first pump air into their wing veins. They are extremely delicate during this phase.
At this point, the adult moths have only one thing on their minds: mating and producing offspring. For this reason, they are not animals that build relationships with their owners or have an interest in interacting with humans. If you want to enjoy your pet moths, you may do so just by observing them — preferably in a flight tent. Depending on the moth species, the flight tent should be large enough to allow the moths to fly around freely without injuring themselves. A minimum size of 2 × 2 × 1 meters (6.56 × 6.56 × 3.28 feet) is recommended.3
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Keeping moths as pets? What you should know
Moths only live for a few weeks, sometimes just a few days. Although moths look beautiful, they are also quite fragile. Most people learn as children that they should not touch butterflies because their wings are very vulnerable.
This is also the case with moths. Even though it is possible to hold them in your hands, their main attraction should be their observation. It can take up to a year from rearing the caterpillars to witnessing the emergence of these nocturnal moths! People looking to keep moths in the future should be aware of this.
It is also not easy to obtain moths. If you live in North America or tropical areas of Asia, it is easier. Many attractive species live in these regions, where you can either go and collect the caterpillars or attract the moths with special incubators, taking the eggs into your care.
All other people should contact certified dealers, as some species are protected and may not be appropriately kept as pets. In addition, some caterpillars that look particularly fluffy are poisonous, such as the southern flannel moth. These insects have become famous on social media because the caterpillars are said to resemble Donald Trump’s hairstyle. However, the caterpillar’s “fur” is actually poisonous hair that causes painful reactions in humans. 4