Common name : Gum emperor
Scientific name : Opodiphthera eucalypti
Family : Saturniidae
Native to : Australia
Interesting fact : The emperor gum moth was the first insect to have been successfully used in the development of continuous insect cell cultures.
With a large wingspan of 150 mm, the emperor gum moth has a multi-coloured body and furry wings. Even as a caterpillar, this insect is striking with short hair-like tubercles on the back. Their diet as caterpillar is comprised of leaves. Once the caterpillar has fed and fully matured, it spins a cocoon on a branch. The cocoon is usually concealed behind a leaf. The caterpillar pupates within the cocoon for a year before emerging as a moth. As an adult, it does not feed and has a very short lifespan of a few weeks.
