Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti)Emperor Gum Moth Pupa and Caterpillar
The Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) is a large moth with a wing span between 120 to 150 mm. The female moth is usually larger then the male. The wings have a furry appearance and multi-coloured, with an overall appearance of pale reddish-brown. It has four beautiful prominent spots and other markings in a symmetrial formation.
Sometimes mistaken for Opodiphthera helena, the little white triangle marks at the top of the wings can be seen on Opodiphthera eucalypti and are not on the wings of Opodiphthera helena.
The antennae of the male Emperor Gum Moth are feathery, while the antennae of the female moth are thinner and with fewer hairs.
The Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) is a species of moth in the family Saturniidae, genus Opodiphthera and is native to Australia (the species was formerly placed in the genus Antheraea).
The life span of the adult moth is only a couple of weeks, during which time they mate, lay eggs and die.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Unranked: Ditrysia
- Superfamily: Bombycoidea
- Family: Saturniidae
- Subfamily: Saturniinae
- Genus: Opodiphthera
- Species: Opodiphthera eucalypti
Footnote & References
- Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) © Deb Taylor
- Emperor Gum Moth, debtaylor142, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&subview=map&taxon_id=68135&user_id=debtaylor142
- Opodiphthera eucalypti (Scott, 1864), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/34a88bce-6898-48a9-9d2a-f72c90de2e78
Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti)Emperor Gum Moth Pupa and Caterpillar
MothsMoths Index Aedia arctipennis Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Australian Striped Hawk Moth Bag-shelter Moth (Ochrogaster lunifer) Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Convolvulus Hawk Moth Day Flying Moth Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) Four-spotted Cup Moth Green-blotched Moth (Cosmodes elegans) Leaf Case Moth Mistletoe Emperor Moth Plume Moth Rattlepod Moth (Utetheisa) Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Saunders’ Case Moth (Metura elongatus) White-spotted Owl-Moth