Eacles imperialis

Last updated

Eacles imperialis
Imperial moth Illinois.JPG
Adult male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Genus: Eacles
Species:
E. imperialis
Binomial name
Eacles imperialis
(Drury, 1773)
Synonyms

Phalaena imperialisDrury, 1773

Eacles imperialis, the imperial moth, is a member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. It is found mainly in the East of South America and North America, from the center of Argentina to south Canada. [1] The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.

Contents

Description

Examples of Eacles imperialis variation Imperial moth variation sjh.jpg
Examples of Eacles imperialis variation
The imperial moth has evolved to look like rotting leaves. Here is a nearly identical poplar tree leaf. Imperial-moth-camouflaged-with-leaf.jpg
The imperial moth has evolved to look like rotting leaves. Here is a nearly identical poplar tree leaf.

The wingspan of an adult is between 80 and 175 mm (3+18 and 6+78 inches). [2] There is a high amount of variation within this species. The colors of the adult are always primarily yellow with red, brown, and purple blotches but can vary distinctly on this. [2] Light and dark morphs of this species are found in both the northern and southern regions of their range. Individuals from the northern regions of their native range may tend to have fewer dark markings. [3] Larvae can be small (approximately 10–15 mm long) and orange with black transverse bands and large spines in the first instar, to 3–5.5 inches (75–100 mm) long in the fifth instar with long hairs and shorter spines and color morphs varying between dark brown and burgundy with white spiracle patches, and green with yellow spiracle patches. [3]

Distribution

Imperial moths (their many regional morphs, subspecies, and sibling species) range from Argentina to Canada and from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. [3] This species is the widest-ranging and northernmost in its genus Eacles . [4] Nominate Eacles imperialis imperialis has been recorded historically from New England and southern Canada, south to the Florida Keys, and as far west as Nebraska. E. i. imperialis may not appear in Massachusetts today except for a population located on Martha's Vineyard. [3] The true northern limits of the nominate's range are unknown because of possible confusion with subspecies E. i. pini in existing records. Subspecies E. i. pini occurs in coniferous and transition zone woodlands at the northern edges of the New England and Great Lakes States and northward into Canada. [2] In the southwest, it is replaced by the closely related E. oslari. Other subspecies are found in Mexico and South America. Subspecies E. i. magnifica can be found in Brazil and surrounding regions. [5]

For a map of the distribution of E. imperialis click here.

Subspecies

The subspecies of Eacles imperialis:

Status

Eacles imperialis is one of a few saturniid species in a regional decline throughout the northeastern US, with some New England states lacking records for many decades. [6] Reasons for the decline have been proposed to be the use of pesticide, insecticides, and herbicides in commercial farming, metal halide street lamps, and the introduction of parasitoids in the attempt to control the spongy moth population. [4] A population on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, has been the subject of scientific and local political activity, especially concerning the preservation of the sensitive frost-bottom oak/pine habitat. [6] E. imperialis is certainly a common species of middle-Atlantic states, Appalachia, the Ohio Valley, and Deep South regions, and is associated with forest, rural and suburban habitats. It is possible that to the north, E. imperialis requires specific habitat and that the increasing fragmentation of niches such as coastal or montane pine barrens is a factor. [6]

Life cycle

Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) development from egg to pupa Larval development- Imperial moth.JPG
Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) development from egg to pupa
Adult, side view ImperialMoth1.JPG
Adult, side view

In Florida and other southern areas, a few adults emerge in spring or early summer, but most emerge in late summer. [7] There is only one brood a year. [2]

Imperial moth larvae are polyphagous with many recorded hosts. However, there are probably regional differences in food preferences. The following plant species are the most commonly reported hosts for the imperial moth: pine species, maple species, oak species, sweetgum, and sassafras.

Egg

The female will lay eggs at dusk. It will do so either singly or in groups of 2 to 5 on either side of a host plant leaf. The eggs hatch in roughly ten days to two weeks. [3] Newly hatched larvae will eat the shell of the egg they emerged from. [3]

Larva

At the end of each instar, a small amount of silk is spun on the major vein of a leaf. The larva then latches onto the silk with its anal claspers and prolegs and begins to molt. It first becomes dormant and undergoes apolysis, then after an additional day or so, undergoes ecdysis. The larva emerges from its old exoskeleton, puffs up, and hardens as it enters the next instar. This species will sometimes eat the old exoskeleton for protein nutrition.

Similar to many other Saturniidae larvae, the imperial moth has five instars.

First instar

Second instar

Third instar

Fourth instar

Fifth instar

Pupa

Pupae are dark brown and have spines on their posterior to aid in emergence from their soil burrow. Abdominal segments are moveable but are unable to telescope because of flanges on the anterior margins of the abdomen. Female gonopores appear as two longitudinal slits on the fourth abdominal segment. Male gonopores appear as two short tubercles on the fourth abdominal segment. [3]

Adult

Adults can have a wingspan of approximately 3–7 inches (80–174 mm). Adults will emerge once a year to mate. Emergence takes place at sunrise and mating will take place in the following night hours of the day. [3] In the northern part of their range, they tend to emerge mid-summer (June–August), while in the southern part, they tend to emerge at more varied times (April–October). [2] Males tend to emerge days earlier than females. Once a pair has been linked in a mating event, they are more vulnerable to predators, particularly foragers. [2]

As with all of Saturniidae, the adults do not feed. [2] Their mouth parts have been reduced.

Sexual dimorphism

Male Eacles imperialis Imperial adult male1 sjh.JPG
Male Eacles imperialis

Sexual dimorphism is present in the adult stages of this species:

Male

Female

Host plants

Larvae feed on a variety of host plants from Coniferous and deciduous trees to shrubs. [2] Examples of some are:

The E. i. pini subspecies feeds almost exclusively on pine and is normally found on Pinus strobus and Pinus resinosa with limited records from other pine species and Picea glauca . [9]

On Martha's Vineyard, E. i. imperialis feeds almost exclusively on pitch pine ( Pinus rigida ). [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luna moth</span> Species of insect

The luna moth, also called the American moon moth, is a Nearctic moth in the family Saturniidae, subfamily Saturniinae, a group commonly named the giant silk moths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturniidae</span> Family of moths

Saturniidae, members of which are commonly named the saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor moths, royal moths, and giant silk moths.

<i>Eacles</i> Genus of moths

Eacles is a genus of moths in the family Saturniidae. They are native to the Americas. The genus was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819.

<i>Dryocampa rubicunda</i> Species of moth

Dryocampa rubicunda, the rosy maple moth, is a small North American moth in the family Saturniidae, also known as the great silk moths. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793. The species is known for its wooly body and pink and yellow coloration, which varies from cream or white to bright pink or yellow. Males have bushier antennae than females, which allow them to sense female pheromones for mating.

<i>Actias selene</i> Species of moth

Actias selene, the Indian moon moth or Indian luna moth, is a species of saturniid moth from Asia. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1807. This species is popular among amateur entomologists and is often reared from eggs or cocoons that are available from commercial sources. They fly mainly at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buck moth</span> Species of moth

The buck moth is a common insect found in oak forests, stretching in the United States from peninsular Florida to New England, and as far west as Texas and Kansas. It was first described by Dru Drury in 1773. The larvae typically emerge in a single generation in the spring. The larvae are covered in hollow spines that are attached to a poison sac. The poison can cause symptoms ranging from stinging, itching and burning sensations to nausea. Subspecies Hemileuca maia maia is listed as endangered in the US state of Connecticut. Subspecies Hemileuca maia menyanthevora, the bog buck moth, is federally endangered, and also protected by Canada and the state of New York. There were five populations known historically but only three still survive, one in the US and two in Canada.

<i>Adelpha californica</i> Species of butterfly

Adelpha californica, the California sister, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. They are common in California, but can also be found in western Nevada and Oregon, as well as in northern Baja California. The upper surfaces of their wings are dark brown to black with wide cream white bands dissecting both wings and two orange patches near the tips of the forewings. The underside is variously colored with browns, blue, orange, and white. A. californica is unpalatable to predators and is part of a large mimicry complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian moon moth</span> Species of moth

The Malaysian moon moth is a Saturniid in the subfamily Saturniinae from Indomalaya. The male is purplish-brown and yellow, while the larger female is overall light green.

<i>Atalopedes campestris</i> Species of butterfly

Atalopedes campestris is a small grass skipper butterfly. It has a wingspan of 35–41 mm. Male is orange, edged with brown, and has a large brown-black stigma. Female is darker with lighter markings in the center of the wing.

<i>Actias dubernardi</i> Species of moth

Actias dubernardi, the Chinese moon moth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. The species was first described by Charles Oberthür in 1897.

<i>Actias isis</i> Species of moth

The Sulawesi moon moth or Isis moon moth is a moth of the family Saturniidae first described by Léon Sonthonnax in 1899.

<i>Citheronia azteca</i> Species of moth

Citheronia azteca is a moth of the family Saturniidae that lives in Guatemala, Belize and Mexico.

<i>Callosamia promethea</i> Species of moth

Callosamia promethea, commonly known as the promethea silkmoth, is a member of the family Saturniidae, which contains approximately 1,300 species. It is also known as the spicebush silkmoth, which refers to one of the promethea silkmoth's common host plants, spicebush. C. promethea is classified as a silk moth, which stems from its ability to produce silk, which it does in the formation of its cocoon. C. promethea lives in forests in the eastern U.S. and does not damage the trees on which it lives. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.

<i>Peridroma saucia</i> Species of moth

Peridroma saucia, the pearly underwing or variegated cutworm, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1808. It is found in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The variegated cutworm feeds on many plants, especially common fruits and vegetables. The moth undergoes two to four generations per year. The development of the moth slows in colder temperatures, indicative of its migratory nature. All stages of the life cycle have a developmental threshold for temperature. The moth is known to migrate to the northern regions during warmer months, returning to the southern regions when the climate becomes colder.

<i>Citheronia laocoon</i> Species of moth

Citheronia laocoon is a species of moth in the family Saturniidae. It is found from the Guianas south to northern Argentina.

<i>Antheraea paphia</i> Species of moth

Antheraea paphia, known as the South India small tussore, the tasar silkworm and vanya silkworm is a species of moth of the family Saturniidae found in India and Sri Lanka. The bulk of the literature on this species uses a junior synonym, Antheraea mylitta, rather than the correct name, A. paphia. It is one of a number of tasar silkworms, species that produce Tussar silk, a kind of wild silk that is made from the products of saturniid silkworms instead of the domesticated silkworm.

<i>Hemileuca lucina</i> Species of moth

Hemileuca lucina, the New England buck moth, is a species of moth in the family Saturniidae. This moth species is only found in the New England region of the United States. Larvae in early stages mainly feed on broadleaf meadowsweet whereas larvae in later stages show variation in food sources such as blackberry and black cherry leaves. Larvae have a black body with orange/black spines on their back that are used to deter predators. Pupation occurs during the summer and adult moths come out around September.

Coloradia doris or Doris' pinemoth, is a species of moth in the family Saturniidae, in the superfamily Bombycoidea. The species was described by William Barnes in 1900. It is found in North America. Larvae have been found on Pinus ponderosa and adults have been found on Pinus contorta and Pinus monophylla. Early instar larvae feed in groups, whereas late instar larvae are solitary feeders. The species overwinters as a pupa, with adults emerging in spring and summer.

<i>Rhodinia fugax</i> Species of moth

Rhodinia fugax, the squeaking silkmoth, is a moth in the family Saturniidae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. It is native to Korea, Japan, China, and the Russian Far East.

References

  1. "Eacles imperialis Drury, 1773". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Lotts, Kelly & Naberhaus, Thomas (2017). "Imperial moth Eacles imperialis (Drury, 1773)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Imperial moth - Eacles imperialis imperialis (Drury, 1773)". entnemdept.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  4. 1 2 3 Goldstein, Paul (2010). "Life history of the Imperial Moth Eacles imperialis (Drury) (Saturniidae: Ceratocampinae) in New England, USA: distribution, decline, and nutritional ecology of a relictual islandic population". The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera . 2003: 34–49. doi: 10.5962/p.266513 . S2CID   88162390.
  5. 1 2 Zanuncio, Jose Cola; et al. (1994). "Major Lepidopterous Defioliators of Southeast Brazil". Forest Ecology and Management. 65: 56–63. doi:10.1016/0378-1127(94)90257-7.
  6. 1 2 3 "Connecticut's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species 2015". State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Bureau of Natural Resources. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. "Imperial Moth". University of Florida. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 Kline, Christopher (2017). Moths of Butterfly Ridge. Butterfly Ridge Butterfly Conservation Center ltd. p. 74. ISBN   978-1542836067.
  9. Tuskes, Paul M.; Tuttle, James P.; Collins, Michael M. (1996). The wild silk moths of North America : a natural history of the Saturniidae of the United States and Canada. Ithaca, N.Y.: Comstock Pub. Associates. p. 68. ISBN   0-8014-3130-1.