There appears to be a single generation in our state, with records from May through August, usually peaking in the hot, humid weather of mid-July and early August. As winged adults, they probably live for only one or two weeks, so mating and egg-laying must occur quickly. They usually mate the first evening after the night they emerge from pupation. Like most other giant silkworm moths, females attract males by releasing pheromones (scents). The males are highly sensitive to these scents and fly upwind, following the scent until they find the female. The pheromones are usually only released for a short period at a specific time of day or night. In regal moths, the calling time is from about 9:30 p.m. to midnight.
Starting the night after mating, females deposit up to 3 eggs at a time on the leaves of suitable host plants. After about a week, the caterpillars hatch out of their eggs and start to eat. They live individually, not in groups. Early-stage caterpillars are camouflaged to look like bird droppings, and they rest on the tops of leaves. The defense of older caterpillars is to look huge and scary! After about 35 days as caterpillars, they’re large enough to move down from the tree canopies to pupate underground.
When mature, the caterpillars burrow into the soil to pupate in the ground. Most people see these breathtaking larvae as they are creeping around, looking for a place to dig into the soil. The caterpillars are usually seen between July and October. They overwinter as pupae.
Our Amish neighbor's son came down and told me about the moth. It was on the ground and having a hard time moving. I am guessing it was at the end of its life cycle.
What a great image. I have never seen such a moth. There's a book I really enjoy by Joseph scheer called 'Night Visions: The secret designs of moths'. It's quite old now but if you can get hold of it it really gives insights into the detail and beauty of moths wings.
