Page 431 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, and across northern Asia to Russian Far East
and northern China

HABITAT Moorlands, heathlands, open scrub, eld margins,
and woodland edges
HOST PLANTS Various, including birch (Betula spp.), willow (Salix spp.),
Heather (Calluna vulgaris), and bramble (Rubus spp.)
NOTE Bright green caterpillar that basks in the sun
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 –2⅜ in (40–60 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
Up to 2⅜ in (60 mm)
SATURNIA PAVONIA
EMPEROR MOTH 429

(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Emperor Moth caterpillars hatch from eggs laid in batches
10 to 14 days earlier on the stems of a variety of host plants.
The young larvae, which consume part of their eggshell before
congregating together, are hairy and black but become green
with age. Initially, they are gregarious but disperse when older.
When disturbed, the caterpillars release a bitter uid that deters

predators, such as birds, parasitic ies, and ants. They crawl into

thick vegetation to pupate.

The pupae overwinter in pear-shaped cocoons, varying in color
from white to pale brown, that are attached to a plant stem near The Emperor Moth caterpillar is vivid green
the ground. The emerging adult is a spectacular moth, easily in color. Each segment is encircled by a broken
black band containing yellow, pink, or orange
identified by its large wingspan and the ornate pattern of wartlike spots. Each spot is covered with a tuft

eyespots designed to scare predators; when threatened, it utters of short, black hairs. Small, white hairs cover
the rest of the body.
its wings to ash the eyespots. The day- ying moths are on the

wing from late spring to early summer and do not feed.

Actual size