Saturnia pyri EGGS
Saturnia pyri, the Giant Emperor moth, is Europe’s largest moth species and can be found across much of mainland Europe, particularly in rural areas where caterpillars enjoy fruit trees and hedgerows. It is not native to the UK, but is closely related to our own Emperor Moth (pavonia) and the two species can actually hybridise to produce viable offspring. Caterpillars appreciate air flow, and often do best caged outdoors where they are exposed to natural conditions. The cocoons are constructed of a rigid, mesh-like silk within which the pupae remain until spring, when the moths emerge for breeding. Interestingly, it is not uncommon for some cocoons to overwinter more than once, emerging two or three years after originally pupating - likely an evolutionary fail-safe mechanism to avoid population collapse if there is a particularly bad season.
Difficulty - Cocoons/moths easy (1/10); caterpillars require some experience (5/10)
Host plants - Cherry; Plum; Pear; Apple; Willow; Ash; Sweet Gum; Hawthorn
Conditions - Room temperature or outdoors; good air flow
Lifecycle - Single brood; cocoons overwinter
Saturnia pyri, the Giant Emperor moth, is Europe’s largest moth species and can be found across much of mainland Europe, particularly in rural areas where caterpillars enjoy fruit trees and hedgerows. It is not native to the UK, but is closely related to our own Emperor Moth (pavonia) and the two species can actually hybridise to produce viable offspring. Caterpillars appreciate air flow, and often do best caged outdoors where they are exposed to natural conditions. The cocoons are constructed of a rigid, mesh-like silk within which the pupae remain until spring, when the moths emerge for breeding. Interestingly, it is not uncommon for some cocoons to overwinter more than once, emerging two or three years after originally pupating - likely an evolutionary fail-safe mechanism to avoid population collapse if there is a particularly bad season.
Difficulty - Cocoons/moths easy (1/10); caterpillars require some experience (5/10)
Host plants - Cherry; Plum; Pear; Apple; Willow; Ash; Sweet Gum; Hawthorn
Conditions - Room temperature or outdoors; good air flow
Lifecycle - Single brood; cocoons overwinter
Saturnia pyri, the Giant Emperor moth, is Europe’s largest moth species and can be found across much of mainland Europe, particularly in rural areas where caterpillars enjoy fruit trees and hedgerows. It is not native to the UK, but is closely related to our own Emperor Moth (pavonia) and the two species can actually hybridise to produce viable offspring. Caterpillars appreciate air flow, and often do best caged outdoors where they are exposed to natural conditions. The cocoons are constructed of a rigid, mesh-like silk within which the pupae remain until spring, when the moths emerge for breeding. Interestingly, it is not uncommon for some cocoons to overwinter more than once, emerging two or three years after originally pupating - likely an evolutionary fail-safe mechanism to avoid population collapse if there is a particularly bad season.
Difficulty - Cocoons/moths easy (1/10); caterpillars require some experience (5/10)
Host plants - Cherry; Plum; Pear; Apple; Willow; Ash; Sweet Gum; Hawthorn
Conditions - Room temperature or outdoors; good air flow
Lifecycle - Single brood; cocoons overwinter