Thanks for also providing the name of the food plant, the coco plum. It really does not do enough damage for us to worry about trying to control it. 1 decade ago. As members of the silkmoth family, adult moths have no mouth parts and do not eat. Males tend to be more heavily marked than females, especially to the south (Covell 1984). When they emerge from cocoon next summer, they will have just a few days to mate and then lay eggs (the females, at least). Imperial moths used to be found throughout New England but now, their only New England home is Martha's Vineyard. There are two color variations: green and brown. Dear Carol, These are positively gorgeous photos of an Imperial Moth Caterpillar, Eacles imperialis.. ... As adults, the moths do not eat. Caterpillar hosts: Conifers and deciduous trees and shrubs including pine (Pinus), oak (Quercus), box elder (Acer negundo), maples (Acer), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Imperial moths, Eacles imperialis, are large, mostly yellow moths with spots, lines and splotches of light to dark brown.They are classified in a section of the giant silkworm family called the royal moths. There exist at least 150,000 species of moths in the world, including the Giant Moth, Sphinx Moth, and Owlet Moth.After the larvae have accomplished their primary survival tasks, they progress into the pupal stage and finally bloom into the final stage of … They live off of their reserves (that were stored when they were caterpillars) until they can find another moth, mate, lay eggs, then die. The imperial moth is found from southern New England south to the Florida Keys and west through the southern Great Lakes region to eastern Nebraska and central Texas. A full grown larva is 75 to 100 mm long. What do adult moths eat? Imperial moths are members of the Saturniidae family of moths to which also belongs the giant silk moths. Unfortunately for your moth, it has emerged too early in the year. Answer Save. Relevance. Compguy. What does an imperial moth eat? Males are somewhat smaller, but have more patches of color. It has yellow wings with spotting and shading variations of pink, orange, or purplish brown. The Imperial Moth; Eacles imperialis, is a large night-flying moth that is easy to identify.It boasts a butter yellow color splotched with a dull purple or brown and its wingspan can reach nearly 7 inches on the females. This large caterpillar is the larvae of the imperial moth, Eacles imperialis.. Life history of the Imperial Moth Eacles imperialis (Drury) (Saturniidae: Ceratocampinae) in New England, U.S.A.: distribution, decline, and nutritional ecology of a relictual islandic population-----Congrats on the good brood results, they are an awesome species. Favorite Answer. Even in Florida, Imperial Moths raise only one brood a year. Good luck finishing them out. Adult moths do not eat leaves. Lv 5. 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