# Creatonotos Gangis Moth

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatonotos-gangis-moth/800067>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 28, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatonotos-gangis-moth/800067 "2017-10-28T13:52:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatonotos-gangis-moth/800067/1 "2017-10-28T13:52:13Z")

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Freaky. What I want know is how the heck that thing flies!

> **[This bug is real, and now so are your nightmares](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/10/25/this-bug-is-real-and-now-so-are-your-nightmares/?utm_term=.4601648ca989)**
>
> It's a Creatonotos gangis moth — and it uses those tentacles to attract a mate.

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatonotos-gangis-moth/800067/2 "2017-10-28T16:01:14Z")

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The article clearly states:

> [@](#):
>
> Hevel said in an email to The Washington Post that the moth in the video appears to be using its scent glands — those strange little tentacles — to attract a mate.
> 
> He said the glands, which are in the moth’s abdomen, are typically deflated.

So if you deflate those you probably end up with the moth flying not much different from the age old question of how bumblebees flies (which was at one time seemed to violate the laws of physics)

> **[Bumblebee Flight Does Not Violate the Laws of Physics](http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/08/bumblebee-flight-does-not-violate-the-laws-of-physics/)**
>
> Myth: Bumblebee’s shouldn’t be able to fly. There’s an oft repeated “fact” that the humble bumblebee defies all known laws of physics every time it flaps its tiny little bee wings and ascends to the sky. Now obviously this is false, since, well,...

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**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creatonotos-gangis-moth/800067/3 "2017-10-28T16:19:28Z")

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Yeah, they deflate right down to basically nothing, just tiny little bumps. They only extend the freaky gland things when stationary and trying to attract a mate.