Page 397 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION From Canada south to at least northern Costa Rica, and west to
the Rocky Mountains
HABITAT Deciduous and evergreen forests

HOST PLANTS American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraci uar), oak
(Quercus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), sassafras (Sassafras spp.),
and pine (Pinus spp.)

NOTE Caterpillar that comes in two quite di erent color forms
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common, though experiencing decline
in northeastern United States

ADULT WINGSPAN
3⅛–6⅞ in (80–174 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
3–4 in (76–100 mm)
EACLES IMPERIALIS
IMPERIAL MOTH 395

(DRURY, 1773)

Imperial Moth eggs are laid in small groups of two to ve, and

the caterpillars are solitary. Initially orange with black horizontal

stripes and long, black laments, they later turn brown with
an orange head, still retaining the filaments. These flexible,
though spiny, projections protect the caterpillar from being
swallowed by a predator and probably contribute to crypsis,
by making the larva look more like a twig. In the last instar the
thoracic projections become claw-shaped, spiny hooks, which if The Imperial Moth caterpillar can be orange with
swallowed would undoubtedly damage the esophagus of a bird, a lighter orange and black head, legs, and spines,
and white spiracles—or it can also be a light or
deterring any future attacks. However, Eacles imperialis relies dark green with a yellow head. Its polymorphism
mostly on cryptic coloration to avoid being eaten. is probably due to the fact that each color pattern
has its advantages and disadvantages in nature,
depending on the background on which the
caterpillar rests, light conditions, and its most
The caterpillar brie y wanders on the ground before burrowing common predator.

in and pupating in an underground chamber. The adult moths
are leaf mimics, cryptic on a background of fallen leaves. Their
patterns are highly variable, a feature likely aimed at evading
birds, which are skilled at developing search images for a
particular “leaf ” pattern.

Actual size