Connection to Human Society
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Since Thysania agrippina is such an evasive and under studied species not much is known about the moths connection to human society. The best scientists and researchers can offer at this time is the effects of other moths in the family Noctuidae. The life stage of owlet moths that seem to have the most effect on human society is the larva or caterpillar stage. This is because at this stage of their lives they eat the most. The reason for this is because they are growing rapidly and are getting ready for the month they spend in their cocoons. The White Witch Moth and its relatives prefer to eat the leaves of woody legumes, such as the India-rubber tree.
Some of the caterpillars of owlet moths have been determined as pests because they devour crops that humans cultivate. These caterpillars are commonly given the name army worms because they travel as a group devouring entire sections of crops before moving on as a group to another section of crops. The caterpillars usually feed at night and hide out during the day in bunches of leaves still left on the plants. Although some owlet caterpillars are pests to human crops, the Thysania agrippina caterpillar is not currently known as a pest and no account of large groups destroying parts of forests or crop fields is known. As of now the largest connection to human society that the White Witch Moth seems to have is our fascination with this large insect and its' metamorphosis. There may not even be this fascination with this creature if it weren't for Maria Sibylla Merian's observations and painting of its' life cycle.
Some of the caterpillars of owlet moths have been determined as pests because they devour crops that humans cultivate. These caterpillars are commonly given the name army worms because they travel as a group devouring entire sections of crops before moving on as a group to another section of crops. The caterpillars usually feed at night and hide out during the day in bunches of leaves still left on the plants. Although some owlet caterpillars are pests to human crops, the Thysania agrippina caterpillar is not currently known as a pest and no account of large groups destroying parts of forests or crop fields is known. As of now the largest connection to human society that the White Witch Moth seems to have is our fascination with this large insect and its' metamorphosis. There may not even be this fascination with this creature if it weren't for Maria Sibylla Merian's observations and painting of its' life cycle.