Saturnia pavonia, the small emperor moth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Sometimes, the incorrect genus name Pavonia is still used for this species. This moth occurs throughout the Palearctic region and is the only member of its family to be found in the British Isles, where it is usually called simply the emperor moth.

The male has a wingspan of about 60 mm with brown and white forewings marked with red and orange fascia and a bold black and orange eyespot. The hindwings are orange with a similar eyespot. The female is larger with a wingspan of about 80 mm, but less brightly coloured than the male, being generally grey and white but has all wings marked with eyespots similar to the male.
 The male flies rapidly during the day from mid-April to late June looking for the rather sluggish females, which usually only fly at night. The species inhabits a range of habitats but is most often associated with heathland and moorland.
 The caterpillar is black and orange at first, later becoming green with black rings and yellow and red spots. The commonest food plant is heather but the species has also been recorded feeding on a huge range of other plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa within a fibrous cocoon.

Description

S. pavonia larvae have been recorded feeding on Alchemilla, Alnus, Arbutus, Betula, Calluna, Cornus, Crataegus, Erica, Fagus, Filipendula, Fragaria, Fraxinus, Hippophae, Humulus, Juglans, Lythrum, Malus, Myrica gale, Pistacia, Populus, Potentilla, Prunus, Pyrus, Quercus, Rhamnus, Rosa, Rubus, Rumex, Salix, Sambucus, Schinus, Sorbus, Spiraea, Ulmus, Vaccinium.

Recorded food plants

Saturnia pavonia caterpillars are considered garden pests because they feed on a variety of plants, including ornamental flowers and vegetables, causing damage to the foliage and potentially impacting the overall health and appearance of the garden.

garden pest

Saturnia pavonia caterpillars are considered crop pests because they have a voracious appetite and can feed on a wide range of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and grains, leading to significant damage and potential economic losses for farmers.

crop pest

Saturnia pavonia caterpillars are considered pests because they feed on a variety of plants, including ornamental flowers and vegetables, causing damage to the foliage and potentially impacting the overall health and appearance of gardens. Additionally, their voracious appetite and ability to feed on a wide range of crops make them crop pests, leading to significant damage and potential economic losses for farmers.

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What are the other common names for the emperor moth?

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