Attacus atlas

The effectiveness of quinine in controlling malaria depends upon its specific toxicity to protozoa. It is much less toxic to the host, and appears to be harmless to a variety of animals. Cinchona bark is eaten by Helopeltis spp. and the caterpillars of Euproctis flexuosa (165) and Attacus atlas. Examination of the last has revealed crystalline cinchonine in the body and amorphous alkaloids have been found in Helopeltis bradyi (165). 

The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) from Southeast Asia has a wingspan of up to 30 centimetres and is considered among the largest butterflies in the world. 

The alkaloids are mostly unnecessary for the normal development of the insect, but in some cases the insect accumulates them, and then becomes unpalatable for animals feeding on the insect. Such accumulators are the insect HelopeltiSy which feeds on Cinchona bark and comes to contain amorphous cinchonine-like alkaloids, and Attacus atlas, which also accumulates cinchonine. A good example of insects prospering from poisons acquired from plants was described by Brower et al. (1968). 

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