Emperor Moth (saturnia pavonia)
The Emperor Moth, a member of the saturniidae family of moths, is widespread throughout Europe, extending into North Africa, and Central and Eastern Asia, north of ther tropics. This spectacular bright 'orange' moth inhabits a range of habitats, but prefers heathland and moorland, flying on the wing during from April to early June. When disturbed it vibrates, giving would-be predators a scare with its terrifying four eyes, amid its furry thorax.
The male, of which this is an example, is between 5-6 cm large. It is often mistaken for a butterfly, as it spends the daylight hours frantically flying around in search of the much larger (10cm), but dowdier blue-grey female, which only takes to the wing at night. and only after mating and hatching some of its eggs. Fuelled by their fat reserves, they have no mouthparts, as their sole intention is to find a mate, and as such only survives a short period of time. Only the male has the feathery antennae, and with them it is able to detect pheromone secreted by the female up to a distance of seven miles.
The caterpillar, which is green with black circular bands studded yellow spots, feeds mainly on moorland plants, such as heathers, but also bramble and blacktorn When fully grown, it is 6cms. As a way of adapting to seasonal change, it sometimes overwinters as a pupa for two years.
Emperor Moth (saturnia pavonia)
The Emperor Moth, a member of the saturniidae family of moths, is widespread throughout Europe, extending into North Africa, and Central and Eastern Asia, north of ther tropics. This spectacular bright 'orange' moth inhabits a range of habitats, but prefers heathland and moorland, flying on the wing during from April to early June. When disturbed it vibrates, giving would-be predators a scare with its terrifying four eyes, amid its furry thorax.
The male, of which this is an example, is between 5-6 cm large. It is often mistaken for a butterfly, as it spends the daylight hours frantically flying around in search of the much larger (10cm), but dowdier blue-grey female, which only takes to the wing at night. and only after mating and hatching some of its eggs. Fuelled by their fat reserves, they have no mouthparts, as their sole intention is to find a mate, and as such only survives a short period of time. Only the male has the feathery antennae, and with them it is able to detect pheromone secreted by the female up to a distance of seven miles.
The caterpillar, which is green with black circular bands studded yellow spots, feeds mainly on moorland plants, such as heathers, but also bramble and blacktorn When fully grown, it is 6cms. As a way of adapting to seasonal change, it sometimes overwinters as a pupa for two years.