Fun Poodle Moth Facts For Kids

Have you ever thought that moths can be cute? Well, the Venezuelan poodle moth can really change your mind.

The new species of moth called the Venezuelan poodle moth is quite a mystery. It was discovered in 2009 by zoologist Dr. Arthur Anker of Bishkek, a city in Kyrgystan. Once the Venezuelan poodle moth was discovered or spotted, Dr. Arthur Anker took a photograph of this new species. Many asked whether new species of Venezuelan poodle moth was real or not. While there are skeptics, many researchers believe it is real and belong to the genus Artace.

Zoologist Arthur Anker discovered the species when he was touring the Canaima National Park in Gran Sabana of Venezuela. However, when other researchers toured the same area, they could not find the species, and hence, it has remained completely understudied. Since Arthur was a bonafide zoologist, the photographs were considered genuine. If you are fascinated by this amazing moth, then read on to find more Venezuelan poodle moth facts.

If you like insects and creatures, then you may want to read on stink bug and northern paper wasp.

What type of animal is a poodle moth?

A Venezuelan poodle moth falls under the category of moth.

What class of animal does a poodle moth belong to?

The Venezuelan poodle moth belongs to the class Insecta.

How many poodle moths are there in the world?

Since only a few poodle moth photographs were taken and it is unclear whether the Venezuela poodle moth is a proper species, researchers cannot put a number on the number of poodle moths that exist in the world.

Where does a poodle moth live?

There are few photographs that exist of the poodle moth. Since the most widely circulated one is from the South American country of Venezuela, it can be predicted that the species lives in the La Gran Sabana region of Venezuela. It is thus referred to as the Venezuelan poodle moth.

What is a poodle moth's habitat?

The Venezuelan poodle moth can generally be found in higher altitudes savannah regions or in high-altitude forests.

Who do poodle moths live with?

Since there is no information about poodle moths, it is not clear if they live in groups or alone. There have even been questions like 'is the Venezuelan poodle moth real?'

How long does a poodle moth live?

The lifespan of the poodle moth is about 8-11 weeks. It is a very short lifespan when compared to the normal moth. However, there has not been any specific research to determine its exact lifespan.

How do they reproduce?

The mating process of the moth is focused on the male spreading their pheromones on the female. Generally, males locate the female. Once the male locates the female, the male moth keeps following her till the female collapses on the ground. Then, the male spreads their pheromones over the female to initiate the mating process. However, this is the mating process of a normal moth. We are not really aware of the mating process of the poodle moth.

What is their conservation status?

The poodle moth is not commonly found, and there has been only one confirmed sighting. Hence, it can be deduced that this cute furry poodle moth is rare.

What do poodle moths look like?

Poodle moths are soft, adorable creatures that resemble muslin moths. It has deep dark black eyes that appear large due to the fur. They have brownish antennae as well. While not much is known about this species, it is presumed to have a thorax, head, abdomen, and six legs, as do all moths. The poodle moth has similarities with the muslin moth.

* Please note that this is an image of a moth, not a poodle moth.

How cute are they?

The Venezuelan poodle moth looks really cute. As the name suggests, the moth looks as cute as a poodle. The fur makes the poodle moth look fluffy, and the eyes are also well-placed to make it stand out as a cute creature. However, we only have a few pictures of the moth to go by.

How do they communicate?

In general, moths have developed special ears which can help them hear the ultra-sonic sounds emitted by bats and, thus, escape. Moths have also developed their own forms of sounds, which can be used for alarm or informing other moths. We can only assume that the poodle moth has similar communication modes.

How big is a poodle moth?

Proper measurements have not been taken of the poodle moth. However, if we make estimations with the most similar species like the dot-lined white moth, then the poodle moth can measure around 0.6-1.22 in.

How fast can a poodle moth fly?

Moths are generally swift flyers. While there is no real data to substantiate the speed of a poodle moth, they can be reasonably fast when they take flight.

How much does a poodle moth weigh?

The exact weight of a poodle moth is not known. The poodle moth is not considered a large moth so, it does not seem to be very heavy, and moths are known to have negligible weight.

What are their male and female names of the species?

There is no specific name that can be given to the poodle moth, male or female.

What would you call a baby poodle moth?

A baby poodle moth can be referred to as a poodle moth larvae or a poodle moth caterpillar.

What do they eat?

Generally, most moths are herbivorous in nature. So, it can be estimated that the Venezuelan poodle moth is also herbivorous.

Are they dangerous?

There have not been any records of the poodle moth being dangerous. Generally, moths are not very dangerous. They are not poisonous in most cases and do not bite humans. Only when moths poison food or ruin clothes can they be dangerous. As a result, poodle moths are unlikely to be dangerous.

Would they make a good pet?

Poodle moths are really cute, and while they may seem to be good pets, we have very little information on them to conclude if they are good pets. So, to be on the safer side, poodle moths should not be considered good pets.

Did you know...

While the photographs of the poodle moth stormed the internet back in 2009, only a few may be real. Most photographs were not publicized. Many of the photos that were circulating were that of a felt figure representing a silk moth or Bombyx mori rather than a Venezuelan poodle moth.

It has been a subject of memes since the time the photograph first emerged on the internet.

Speculations about the poodle moth

There has been a lot of speculation and controversy as to whether the fuzzy poodle moth is a real moth or just a photoshopped image. However, most researchers are of the opinion that it is, in fact, a real moth. However, what many researchers speculate is that the poodle moth may not technically be a different species of moth. Since it looks like a muslin moth, it is a possibility that the poodle moth is just a genetic aberration of the same species. However, it seems to belong to the genus Artace.

How does the poodle moth get its name?

The fuzzy poodle moth got its name due to its furry appearance. Even though the poodle moth wings may make it look different, it still looks like a cute poodle dog, and hence, it has got the name poodle moth.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods including puss moth, or American dagger moth.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our luna moth coloring pages.