Emperor moth cecropia Bashny.Net

Cecropia Emperor moth (lat. Hyalophora cecropia) is the largest moth in North America and one of the most brightly colored. Palette of shades that painted these inmates forests and orchards depends on the air temperature, which has grown and developed their larvae.



The warmer was a couple of days, the more red and brown tones can be seen on the wings of a butterfly. Unlike most of the moth on the wings cecropia is no characteristic of this family of small translucent "Windows".



Life of adult moth cecropia only lasts two weeks and goes out to find a partner, mate and lay eggs. This large and colourful moths created only in order to reproduce: they completely lack a digestive system and there is not the slightest signs of the mouth or jaws.



Massive, with a rounded abdomen of the female, whose wingspan of about 160 mm, a little larger than males, but do not have such luxurious antennas as their partners. To attract males, females emit pheromones, which he is able to capture your sensitive antennas even at a distance of fifteen kilometers. Himself a gentleman in search of a future partner is ready to fly more than twelve miles.



The mating process of the moth cecropia lasts the whole day, from dawn to dusk. Some time later, the female lays about a hundred light-brown eggs on the leaves of maple, birch or Apple trees.



Usually in the late fall, after four molting, caterpillars cecropia who grow up to 10-12 cm, wrapped in a cocoon. In it they pupate, and spend all winter and hatch in the first warm days of summer.

Source: zoopicture.ru