Imperial Moth

Description:

There is a high amount of variation within this species. The colors of the adult are always yellow and purple but can vary distinctly on this. Generally there is more purple on the forewing and more purple on males. However, one subspecies tends to have a distinct coating of purple over the entire wings. Darker, heavily mottled individuals are typical forms of the southern and western range. Regional food plant preferences have been noted as well, although captive-bred populations from all sources are nearly omnivorous.

Habitat:

Imperial moths and their many regional morphs, subspecies, and sibling species range from Mexico to Canada and from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. Nominate Eacles imperialis imperialis has been recorded historically from New England and southern Canada, south to the Gulf of Mexico and west across the Great Plains. In modern times, its range has receded northward (where it was always a good find); it is considered more common south of the Mason-Dixon line. They generally occur in coniferous and transition zone woodlands at the northern edges of the New England and Great Lakes States and northward into Canada.

Notes:

Adults emerge once a year to mate. In the northern part of their range they tend to emerge mid summer (June–August), while in the southern half they tend to emerge at more varied times (April–October). A linked pair is vulnerable to predators, particularly foraging raccoons. As with all of Saturniidae, the adults do not feed. Therefore, their mouthparts have been reduced because of this adaptation over time.