Emperor Moth

The Emperor moth (Family Satruniidae - this is the same family as the silk moth) is fairly common on the moorlands at Rannoch. In the UK it is found on heathland and moorland from Cornwall to Scotland. It is a large moth with a wingspan of from 55mm to 80 mm and flies from March to May. The more brightly coloured males fly in the day and the females at night.

The caterpillar stage lasts just over a month and the colour changes through the different instars.

The caterpillars feed on Heather, Hazel, Sallow, Bramble, Blackthorn, Alder, Meadowsweet, Lady’s mantle, Rowan and Hawthorn.

There is one generation a year and the adults emerge from the chrysalis 8 months after the eggs are laid.

Photo by Dean Morley and displayed here through a link to the Butterfly Conservation website.

Eggs and early in star caterpillars of the Emperor moth.

Creative Commons - credit Tiia Monto

The caterpillar feed on heather amongst other plants. The fully grown caterpillar sheds its skin five times before spinning a chrysalis.

Photo by Richard Paul

This chrysalis was found by Sandra Winter near the Schiehallion road on Saturday 30th June 2020. The chrysalis is glued to heather. It is a struggle of the adult moth to emerge from the chrysalis and to inflate its wings.

Creative Commons - credit Patrick Clement

The Male moth. Note the plumose (feathery) antennae which the male uses to find the female, sometimes over very long distances. The eye markings are defensive and may frighten potential predators.

This image was taken by Iain H Leach and is displayed here through a link to the Butterfly Conservation website.

The Female Moth

The female is larger than the male and does not have the plumose antennae that the male uses to find the female through the pheromone that she releases.

Richard Paul