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Imperial Moth 2

Photography Insects posted on Sep 02, 2008
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Description


Nikon 7900 pocket camera, hand-held image. This is another shot of the large Imperial Moth I found recently. This shows the top of the wings (which have sustained some damage). As I mentioned in yesterdays post, this individual was near the end of its life and very docile with no energy left to do much more than just holding onto whatever was within touching distance. I doubt that it survived the night. Classification: Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Class Insecta (Insects) Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) No Taxon (Moths) Superfamily Bombycoidea Family Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths) Subfamily Ceratocampinae (Royal Moths) Genus Eacles Species imperialis (Imperial Moth) Size: adult wingspan 80-174 mm; female larger than male larva length to 100 mm Identification: Adult: wings yellow, variably spotted and shaded with pinkish, orangish, or purplish-brown; male more heavily marked than female, especially in the south Larva: two variable color forms - green form varies from light green to dark green; brown form varies from orangish to chocolate brown to almost black; pair of spined dorsal tubercles on second and third thoracic segments, and sometimes first few abdominal segments; spiracles prominent, yellowish-white, ringed with black; many long whitish hairs dorsally, and shorter less dense ones laterally; short middorsal horn on ninth and tenth abdominal segments; prolegs larger on tenth segment than on other segments Range: eastern United States plus Ontario and Quebec Habitat: deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests; adults are nocturnal and come to light Food: Larvae feed on leaves of Bald Cypress, basswood, birch, cedar, elm, hickory, Honeylocust, maple, oak, pine, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sycamore, walnut. Adults do not feed. Life Cycle: Large yellow eggs are laid singly or in groups of 2-5 on both surfaces of host leaves, and take two weeks to hatch. Larvae are solitary feeders. Pupation occurs in underground burrows. It over winters in the soil, as a pupa. Adults emerge before sunrise and mate after midnight the next day. One generation per year in the north; one or two generations in the south Thanks to those who take the time to comment. Lee

Comments (14)


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praep

12:31AM | Tue, 02 September 2008

Great macro of a wonderful moth. I think many of them are much more beautyful than butterflies.

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flora-crassella

12:31AM | Tue, 02 September 2008

ohhh - is this a interesting large moth! Wonderful photo!!!

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durleybeachbum

2:13AM | Tue, 02 September 2008

Most unusual colouring, I don't recall seeing that mauve in an insect here (yet)! Super macro.

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mairekas

3:12AM | Tue, 02 September 2008

Wonderful macro! Thanks for sharing!

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Blush

3:32AM | Tue, 02 September 2008

Wow A very interesting moth here Love the coloring on the moth.... Also one of my first views of yours so nice to meet you Do hope you come visit me as well Adding this to my favs Hugs Susan~

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ledwolorz

4:01AM | Tue, 02 September 2008

Fantastic color and detail.Wonderful macro.

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Littlejock

6:38AM | Tue, 02 September 2008

Beautiful details and colours.

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tizjezzme

6:44AM | Tue, 02 September 2008

Such a furry little guy (I know they aren't that little though ) .. great shot Lee.

MrsLubner

1:44PM | Tue, 02 September 2008

That light lavender color is so well defined on the pale yellow. The head detail is very good as well and I even like the view of the feet in this. Stunning beauty shown in this photo.

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bpclarke

5:28PM | Tue, 02 September 2008

It's a lovely little thing. Superb capture. Bunny

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MrsRatbag

9:02PM | Tue, 02 September 2008

Stunning shot!

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skyla824

9:53AM | Wed, 03 September 2008

WONDERFUL MACRO WORK....

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Optiramma

11:41AM | Wed, 03 September 2008

Beautiful. What great wing colors and design.

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lorandbartho

6:13AM | Sat, 06 September 2008

Superb!


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