We found this Beautiful moth on the porch last evening! It is an Imperial moth. This particular moth is a female. The males have a lot more purple on them. There is a lot of variation within this species, they can be mostly yellow or almost look brown/purple.
Only their larva eat, they do not feed as adults.
They live in evergreen forests. Their numbers are declining in the northeastern states, and it is unknown as to why. But, there is still a strong population here in the Ohio Valley.
I hope you get the chance to run across one, now through august they will be out and about to mate so keep your eyes peeled. That bright yellow is hard to miss! :)
