Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia

Britain’s only Silk moth. The male and female have similar markings, but the female is larger, and the male is smaller but more brightly coloured. These moths fly by day but are only rarely seen.

The moths hatch out towards the end of March and into April. A female moth will emit pheromones and will attract males from miles away. The grey eggs are laid in masses of about 150 on suitable food plants.  The Emperor moth occurs in many rural areas but is particularly found on heaths, where they breed on heathers. The larvae are easy to keep and feed on a wide variety of plants including bramble, raspberry, hawthorn, blackthorn, apple, plum, blackthorn, oak, hornbeam, birch, heathers, meadowsweet, wild rose, sea buckthorn, purple loosestrife, willows especially osier & pussy willow (sallow).

The caterpillars cluster in the early instars, eventually spreading out and becoming brightly coloured. The cocoon is spun on the foodplant. An interesting construction with a neck and open end, through which the adult will later emerge. 

Store cocoons in a plastic box in a fridge until March. The moths normally emerge again in April.

This is one of the fun species to rear!

You will receive at least 25 freshly laid eggs which will hatch after about 10 days. Place the eggs in a small container with a little of their foodplant. Make sure the container is ventilated. As the caterpillars increase in size change their container accordingly.