regal moth

regal moth, (subfamily Ceratocampinae), any of a group of large and brightly colored saturniid moths that occur only in the New World. The insects are important prey for birds, bats, and other insectivores, and the often strikingly large adults are considered indicators of forest health and biodiversity.

Physical description

Adults have stout, hairy bodies and broad wings that are often vividly colored and patterned. Some species have a central eyespot marking each wing. Like other saturniids, adult regal moths have reduced, or vestigial, mouthparts, and many never feed. The feathery antennae of males are used to detect the pheromone scent of distant females.

The large, usually green, larvae are caterpillars and feed chiefly on tree foliage. Most species have colorful knots or spines and sometimes irritant barbs. Some spin cocoons; others pupate in the ground.

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Major species

The ferocious-looking but harmless hickory horned devil caterpillar (larva of the royal walnut moth, Citheronia regalis) has a black-spined, green body and black-tipped red spines behind its head. It eats principally walnut, hickory, and persimmon leaves. The adult has yellow-spotted, olive-gray forewings with red veins and reddish-orange hindwings with yellow markings.

The imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) has yellow wings and body with purple to brown markings. The green body of the larva has a sparse covering of long white hairs, yellow horns, and a brown head. Striped Anisota larvae (e.g., the green-striped mapleworm, A. rubicunda; the pink-striped oakworm, A. virginiensis; and the orange-striped oakworm, A. senatoria) may at times cause much damage to maple, oak, and box elder trees.