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Emperor Moth, Saturna pavonia, caterpillar
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The emperor moth, Saturna pavonia, is distinguishable by its eye-like spots on its wings. The wings are about 21-35mm and a grey colour in females and browner in males. The emperor moth is a day flying moth and they are camouflaged against heather. It will sit with its wings open with the eye spots showing. When they are threatened, they will vibrate their wings and the eye spots will startle predators allowing the moth to escape.
The caterpillar can grow up to 60mm and is bright green with black circular rings and bristles along it. Like the adult it is also well camouflaged in heather, which is its main food plant. The eggs are laid in may in batches around the stems of the heather plants. The caterpillar feeds on the heather, and occasionally bramble or blackthorn leaves, until fully grown in August. The caterpillars will then spin a cocoon in which they pupate among the heather stems. They will overwinter in the cocoon and emerge as an adult in late April. They can be seen flying from April to June.
This moth is widespread in Scotland, but isn't found on Shetland or Lewis. It will live in heather moorland, heathland and open woodland. Most of the moths in Scotland live in heather moorland. This habitat is declining due to the planting of trees on moorland and the grazing of deer and sheep. There is a scheme in place which helps farmers and estate owners to preserve heather moorland. Some areas are also protected by designations such as being a National Nature Reserve (NNR) or a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), which helps protect this habitat for the emperor moth.
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