Darwin's Prediction Fulfilled: The Remarkable Discovery of Wallace's Sphinx Moth
Wallace's sphinx moth, also known as Xanthopan praedicta, was predicted by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in the 19th century. They hypothesized that a long-tongued moth would be the pollinator of the Madagascan orchid, Angraecum sesquipedale. Their prediction was confirmed in 1903 when the moth was discovered. In 2019, it was found that the moth has the longest insect tongue ever recorded, measuring 28.5 cm (11.2 inches). A recent taxonomic study classified the moth as its own species, Xanthopan praedicta.