SATURNIIDAE
One species of this family is found in the British Isles, and it occurs in Dorset. The adult is large in size, up to 85 mm., stout bodied, broad-winged and highly colourful; the moth is a member of a mainly tropical family that includes the famous silk-worm (Bombyx mori). Emperor larvae are black when small, but later, this changes to a bright apple-green colour and the whole body is adorned with tubercles sprouting bristles. The larva constructs a tough silken cocoon within which it pupates.
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1643 Saturnia pavonia (Linnaeus, 1758) EMPEROR The species is widespread in open habitats, the larva feeding on heather (Calluna spp.), sallow (Salix spp.), bramble (Rubus fruticosus), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). In Dorset, the moth is local and at low density, and has been recorded from many of the heathland blocks in the county. The larva has been found chiefly on ling (Calluna vulgaris) and bell heather (Erica cinerea), and, despite its size and exotic appearance, blends in well with its host foodplant. The male behaves in the same manner as the Fox1638 and Oak Eggar1637 males, flying during the day in pursuit of the female pheromone. Assembling active males in spring is often productive; a freshly emerged captive female in a garage on a housing estate in Ferndown attracted several males to the cage within twenty minutes in 2003 (R Cook). The following records refer to individuals encountered some distance away from heathland habitat: Dorchester, female at MV light on 25 April 1967 (AT), Gaunts Common, female at MV light on 21 May 1985 (Miss M Brooks), Purewell Meadows, three larvae on bramble 14 June 2002 (R Cook, P Davey).
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