Recently in Changsha, Hunan, a woman filmed a uniquely shaped insect by the roadside. At first glance, it looked like a butterfly resting on a car tire but the wing tips bore markings that resembled two snake heads, creating a startling effect that made people hesitant to approach.

Entomologists explained that this “snake-like butterfly” is actually the Atlas moth, also known as the snakehead moth or snakehead butterfly. It belongs to the Saturniidae family and is one of the largest moth species in the world. Its wings are reddish-brown, with the tips of the forewings curving outward like snake heads, patterned with bright yellow and a round black spot resembling a snake’s eye. This striking design is a form of visual mimicry that tricks predators into mistaking it for a snake, deterring attacks.

Atlas moth larvae feed on plants, and adults are harmless. The species' mimicry serves as a crucial survival strategy, effectively scaring off birds, reptiles, and other potential predators.