Antheraea

/ænθəˈreɪə/ noun

Definition

A genus of large silk moths, including the famous Indian tassar silk moth, known for producing valuable silk fibers.

Etymology

From Greek 'anthos' (flower) and 'area' (area/space), referring to the flower-shaped wings. The genus was scientifically named in the 19th century as these moths were discovered to be major silk producers in Asia.

Kelly Says

The Antheraea moths produce some of the world's most luxurious silk, but unlike regular silk moths, they can survive to adulthood—which actually makes them less efficient for traditional silk farming, yet their silk is prized for different qualities!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.