emperor moth

insect

Also known as: Saturnia pavonia, peacock moth

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

The emperor moth is a type of moth belonging to the family Saturniidae. This family includes approximately 3,400 species of moths, some of which produce commercial silk from their cocoons. The emperor moth, specifically Saturnia pavonia, is a large European moth. Adult emperor moths have stout, hairy bodies and broad wings, often featuring a distinct eyespot. Unlike many other moths, adult emperor moths have reduced mouthparts and many do not feed. The term "peacock moth" is also used synonymously with emperor moth.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

7 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

saturniid moth
Major species
…heavily scaled wings of the emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia), which occurs in temperate regions of Europe and Asia, are marked by transparent eyespots, which presumably serve a protective function in frightening predators. Larval forms feed on shrubs.
Read More
…heavily scaled wings of the emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia), which occurs in temperate regions of Europe and Asia, are marked by transparent eyespots, which presumably serve a protective function in frightening predators. Larval forms feed on shrubs.
Read More