facts about the regal moth

The orange and blue-gray stripes cover its wings. Please note whilst every effort is made to provide accurate identifications and information errors could occur. Copyright © 2010-2020 Wildlife Insight. late July. The eggs, oval and yellowish, hatch between six and ten days from being laid. There also are single yellow discal and basal spots. In terms of sheer mass, this visually stunning invertebrate quite easily represents the heaviest moth species north of … Just before digging itself into the ground to pupate, the color turns from green to an translucent blue-green. Pale yellow spots of various sizes dot the forewings. Regal Moth found on border of Bluefield Virginia-West Virginia on asphalt. A large, colorful moth in the Saturniidae family … This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. [3] There is a distinct bell curve to the emergence, with peak weeks coinciding with the first spell of the humid summer weather which may synchronize emergences. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Regal moth found in East Hampton, NY the afternoon of June 30, 2012. They are laid either singly or in groups of up to four on the upper surface of the host plant leaves, favoring nut trees such as Juglans and Carya (walnuts and hickories). This gorgeous insect displays a moderate degree of sexual dimorphism, much as many other Lepidoptera. All Rights Reserved. Every aspect of this creature’s life is amazing and something that truly needs to be experienced. It ranks as the largest species of moth endemic to North America. Ash (Fraxinus), Butternut (Juglans), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Hazel (Corylus), Hickory (Carya), Oak (Quercus), Pecan (Carya), Persimmon (Diospyros), Privet (Ligustrum), Sassafras (Sassafras), Sumac (Rhus), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Walnut (Juglans), Wild Cherry (Prunus), Willow (Salix). Regal Moth great under wing shot. The name Hickory Horned Devil is a well-suited name for this caterpillar. A week later and the larva has almost doubled in size. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Its eggs are yellowish, oval and 2 mm in diameter. “It was very fitting because we had just wrapped up our vacation Bible school program titled ‘Into the Wild. They molt four times. 2 . Copyright © 2010-2020 Wildlife Insight. The Regal Moth, or Royal Walnut Moth, Citheronia regalis certainly lives up to its name. SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Argema mittrei, the Madagascan Comet Moth, BUGGY BOOK REVIEW: “The Moths of Butterfly Ridge” by Christopher Kline, LEPIDOPTERA LIFE CYCLES: Citheronia regalis, the Regal Moth. Pale yellow spots of various sizes dot the forewings. For image use enquiries please email [email protected] or click here to email Steve Ogden at Wildlife Insight. Required fields are marked *. The adult female Regal Moth, also known as the Royal Walnut Moth, is one of the largest moths in North America moths with a wingspan of up to 15.5cms, the male being slightly smaller. It also has about nine yellow spots scattered throughout in rows. The adult (imago) has a wingspan of 3.75-6.1 in (9.5-15.5 cm). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Regal Moth caterpillar is the largest North American caterpillar reaching up to 14cms in length. There is less prominent striping on the hind wings. Color and Appearance: When opened, the forewings are grayish-green or gray with orange veins. Danish zoologist Jonathan Christian Fabricius described them first in 1793. The hindwings are also rust-colored with yellow patches along to top edges. Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org. The hind wings are majorly orange with yellow spots or patches occupying the anal and costal margins. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images or return to the article. Striped and spotted, the Regal Moth can also add 'large' to its list of identifying characteristics. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The images were accompanied with a text that read, "Jon what the heck is this?" At this time, they grow long enough to about 15 cm. In response to increasing caterpillar inquiries from many states in the USA an American caterpillar gallery has been added. '” Learn why some moths are important pollinators. 1 . Regal Moth under wing shot 2. After the moths mate, the female spends the majority of the remainder of her life laying eggs, while the male may mate several more times. The pupae are very typical for members of the Citheronia genus. The hairs on the very large bodies are red and cream. When the eggs hatch 7 to 10 days later, small yellow larvae that darken rapidly emerge. Citheronia Regalis (Regal Moth) Photo taken in Thomasville, Alabama. It takes the eggs about 15-16 days to hatch, starting the four larval stages - embryo, larva, pupa and imago. The orange head and abdomen are densely hairy with white stripes. She landed on me one night back in July 2004 and began to lay eggs on me. All rights reserved. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Males can fly for miles in order to reach a female. These ova are not fertile. They have a diameter of about 2mm. Your email address will not be published. The orange head and abdomen are densely hairy with white stripes. The orange and blue-gray stripes cover its wings. Its skin at that moment is tight and a little stretched attaining a shiny texture. ( Log Out /  Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The ... read more, Moon Gardens are appreciated after sunset Regal moth, a native of North America, belongs to the Saturniidae family. A cluster of ova, one larva out with "horns" inflated, one larva just hatching. Typically, Citheronia regalis is a midsummer moth, on wing from late June through August with larvae peaking August through October. They feed heavily on their host plant for 37 to 42 days[2] and can grow up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long. The caterpillar is one of the largest caterpillars in the world, both in length and in girth, and people who accidentally find them often freak out, not knowing what they are. These caterpillars get huge, reaching a length of six inches by the time they are ready to pupate. Regal Moth “I was walking to my Sunday school class and noticed this regal moth sitting on a railing between classrooms,” says Stephanie Perry of Fruithurst, Alabama. hi,I am on your site to learn about the Regal Moth.I live in Hockessin Delaware and I came out to put out my recycling this morning 7/19/06 and noticed this huge and spectacular Moth on one of my columns and it was a Regal Moth.I donated it to The Ashland Nature Center and she laid eggs and they will be picking up tommorrow. 4-5 weeks later the darker Hickory Horned Devil on top is ready to go underground for the winter. Called Hickory Horned Devils, these creatures grow to the size of small hotdogs and boast spikes that would terrify any predator. They are a dark reddish-brown to almost black in color and are quite large and stout. VIEW IMAGE. Danish zoologist Jonathan Christian Fabricius described them first in 1793. Its fearsome appearance has led to it also being referred to as the Hickory Horned Devil. All Rights Reserved. The other Devil is still eating Sumac and will turn this darker turquoise color before hitting ground. Images may not be used without the written permission of the photographer. It was a Citheronia regalis, also known as the Regal Moth! The orange head and abdomen are densely hairy with white stripes. The hind wing may also have one to two rows of gray-green spots. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Striped and spotted, the Regal Moth can also add 'large' to its list of identifying characteristics. An undeserving name as the caterpillar is harmless despite the threatening appearance of the horn like projections scattered over its body. There is less prominent striping on the hind wings. It’s range is the eastern portion of the United States, east of the Great Plains. The hind wing is mostly orange with a basal yellow spot and yellow patches (or spots) on the costal and anal margins. The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The unique coloration and horned appearance of the larva in their last instar stage earns them the name hickory horned devil. However, this distinctive moth species display it in several ways. Adults do not feed.[1]. The Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus) is considered one of the most impressive and appealing-looking lepidopterans. Royal walnut moth, hickory horned devils ( as the larvae are called), Several parts of the United States, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Missouri, Texas, and Florida, Species of tachinid and sarcophagid flies, and also wasps.

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