Hobbies And Interests
Male Emperor Moths
The male emperor moth is smaller than the female of the species, giving it an advantage when it comes to hiding from any threat. The males fly during the daytime, often in search of a female companion, and use the dull, natural coloring of their wings to blend in with their surroundings. The male wings are brown in color, with hinderwings of an orange tint. The wings contain eye spots that can also frighten away predators. The wings are typically 20 mm to 35mm in length.
Female Emperor Moths
The female moth is a nocturnal creature. Her coloring is more gray than the male, which helps her to camouflage against dry leaves and twigs. She is larger than the male. Camouflage is important to the female moth as she must be protected as she lays her eggs, often among the heather. These eggs will hatch into caterpillars who will live and feed on the heather until forming cocoons. The moth emerges from its cocoon in the spring months.
Life Cycle of the Moth
The emperor moth begins its life as a green caterpillar, which can grow up to 60 mm long. The caterpillar is bright green with black bristles and bands. It feeds mainly off the heather of its natural habitat, which it can later use as camouflage when threatened. The caterpillar forms a brown, pear-shaped cocoon which itself blends nicely against a branch until the moth emerges.
Other Defenses of the Emperor Moth
While the coloring of its wings is an important defense for both male and female emperor moths, the moth has another method to fend off predators. When the wings are spread, the moth is at rest, but when threatened the moth will suddenly vibrate its wings, causing the eye spots on the hinderwings to startle a predator. This gives the moth a moment to flee the threat.