Saturniidae is a vast worldwide family that includes many of the world largest and most spectacular moths. They are absent from only the most northerly and southerly regions.It is best represented in the tropics, especially in the New World. There are about 1480 species in 165 genera. The name of the family Saturniidae is derived from the ‘Saturn’s rings’ ocelli on the wings. Because of their size and handsome colors, Saturniid moths are often called emperor moths. Some spin thick, silken cocoons and are sometimes used to produce commercial silk, therefore they are also called silkmoths or giant silkworm moths.
Glover’s silkmoth (Hyalophora gloveri) from Canada, spotted by ianmaton.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Sub-order: Heterocera
- Superfamily: Bombycoidea
- Family: Saturniidae
Many species have well developed eyespots or transparent patches on both the fore and hind wings. A number of species have long tails on their hind wings. Male and female wing patterns can often be totally different. Males can generally be distinguished by their larger, broader antennae.
Malaysian moon moth (Actias maenas) from Malaysia, spotted by kevogecko.
Southern marbled emperor (Heniocha apollonian) from South Africa, spotted by Kei Heyns.
Among the Saturniids, we find some of the largest moth species of the world with wingspans of about 23 to 28cm. The largest specimens are in the genus Attacus from South and Southeast Asia.
Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) from Malaysia, spotted by victoria.vikspics
Unlike butterflies and many other moths, Adult Saturniid moths do not feed. They have no mouth parts and simply use the energy they have stored from the larval stage to carry out their one function, that of reproduction.
Females attract males for mating by releasing a volatile attractant chemical pheromone. These moths typically live at very low population densities, so males have the ability to smell out females at distances of miles; their large, feather-shaped antenna contain sensory organs called sensilla, 70% of which are sensitive only to the females’ perfume. Studies have determined that a male emperor moth can detect a female emperor moth up to 11 kilometers (7 miles) away!
Lorquin’s atlas moth (Attacus lorquini) from the Philippines, spotted by Leana Lahom-Cristobal.
The caterpillar stages of these moths are also large and spectacular, and are observed more often than the moths. Many are cryptic in coloration, with counter-shading or disruptive coloration to avoid detection, but some are more colorful and often covered with spines or protuberances. These tubercles give the caterpillar a threatening look, but in most cases they’re quite harmless. However, the spines on the io moth caterpillar are true defensive weapons and can produce a painful sting to anyone who carelessly handles them.
Promethea silkmoth caterpillar (Callosamia promethea) from USA, spotted by Carol Snow Milne.
Hickory horned devil caterpillar (Citheronia regalis) from USA, spotted by makelly78.
Io moth larva (Automeris io) from USA, spotted by Aaron_G.
Bullseye moth caterpillar (Automeris naranja) from Brazil, spotted by MayraSpringmann.
Pupation in most subfamilies is in a dense silken cocoon suspended from, or attached to the host-plant or wrapped in foliage. These cocoons, especially those of Saturniid moths in genera such as Samia and, especially Antheraea are sometimes used in the manufacture of silk. Some New World groups and most African Bunaeini pupate in the soil without a cocoon.
Wild silkmoth (Samia kohlli) from India, spotted by vijaybarve.
Silkworm cultivation began 5000 years ago in China, spreading throughout southern Asia. During the eleventh century, a few silkmoth eggs were stolen by European traders and silk production began in Europe. Today, silk is still cultivated in Japan, China, Spain, France, and Italy, although artificial fibers have largely replaced the use of silk in the textile industry. A cocoon is typically made of a single thread almost 1000 meters long, and it takes more than 5,000 cocoons to produce a kilogram of silk!