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| Imperial Moth, Eacles imperialis |
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| Imperial Moth, Eacles imperialis |
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| Imperial Moth, Eacles imperialis |
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| Imperial Moth, Eacles imperialis |
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This awesomely beautiful moth was near a neighbor's front door one morning. What a treat! Probably he had been attracted to and confused by her porch light. Before I touched the neighbor's door, of course I had to go grab my camera. This was a male Imperial Moth and the first of its kind I'd ever seen. If it were a female, the wings would have had more yellow and fewer dark patches. These moths are dimorphic which means there are two forms - one for male, one for female. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed - their job is reproduction. Their larval host foods include oak, sweet gum, sassafras, maple and cedar.
My camera's clicking disturbed the moth and he dropped to the brick floor with a plop. There he was in danger of being trod upon. I gently offered my hand and he clung readily to my fingers. I carefully transported him to a brick window ledge where he'd be sheltered during the day. He rested on that ledge until sunset, when he vanished, off to take care of Imperial Moth business.
