What is the common name of the moth with the greatest wing surface area?

The atlas moth is the moth with the greatest wing surface area.

Attacus atlas is a giant silk moth native to the forests of South and Southeast Asia. It is widely recognized for its enormous wings, which have rust, brown, cream, and purple markings. The wing tips resemble the heads of snakes, a pattern that may startle potential predators.

The atlas moth’s size is often described using wing area rather than only wingspan. Different sources and specimens can produce slightly different measurements, and comparisons may distinguish wingspan, total surface area, or body size. That is why records for the “largest moth” can appear to vary.

Like other giant silk moths, the adult has a short life and does not feed because its reduced mouthparts are nonfunctional. It survives on energy stored during the caterpillar stage. The caterpillar feeds on leaves, then forms a tough silken cocoon before emerging as the spectacular adult moth.