Bug FAQEmperor Gum Moth
Opodiphthera eucalypti · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Saturniidae
Its wings and body are furry, reddish-brown, and display four eye-like spots plus other symmetrical markings. Caterpillars live on young eucalyptus leaves from October to March, usually high in the canopy, and the adult does not feed after emerging.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The moth’s wings and body are furry, reddish-brown, and have four prominent eye spots with additional symmetrical patterns.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 120 to 150 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Caterpillars are found on young eucalyptus leaves between October and March, often high up in the tree canopy.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adult moths do not feed; they rely on energy stored from the caterpillar stage.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The caterpillar stage can last many weeks depending on temperature and weather. When ready to emerge, the adult softens the cocoon by regurgitating fluid and cuts a hole with hooks on its forewings.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Caterpillars appear from October to March, and adults emerge the following spring or early summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It was previously placed in the genus Antheraea.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 9 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Virginia, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When do I see the caterpillars?
Caterpillars are usually found on young eucalyptus leaves from October through March.
Source: Wikipedia
Does the adult moth eat?
No, the adult does not feed and lives on stored energy from its larval stage.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Saturniidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opodiphthera_eucalypti
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.