Small Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)

OTHER NAMES: Emperor Moth
Latin Etymology: Saturnia (for Saturn) pavonia (?)

Adult male Small Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia) at Geddington, Northants, UK - April 2022

Featured Subspecies: 
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 6-8cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

In the UK, this species is more generally known as the "emperor moth" as it is the sole representative of its family found here. They have a wide range of food plants, some notable examples in the UK including alder, birch, heather, hawthorn, beech, starberry, ash, walnut, oak and assorted fruit trees. They are sexually dimorphic, with the female having a greyer colour scheme.

Related Species:
Order:  Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Genus: Saturnia
SUBSPECIES: S. p. homophora, S. p. lapp,archica, S. p. postrosacea

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Widely distributed
 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Blue-nosed Caterpillar (Acharia horrida)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Acharia (?) horrida ("bristly")

 

Blue-nosed Caterpillar (Acharia horrida) at Geddington, Northants, UK - August 2026

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A member of a genus better known for its distinctive caterpillars than its rather traditionally shaped adult form. The taxon is known as slug moths due to their bulky size and lack of obvious legs. They are found in Central America down to Ecuador. The bristly spines contain irritant toxins.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Limacodidae 
Genus: Acharia
SUBSPECIES:?
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - 

A resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: One seen at Alajuela

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Papilio ("butterfly") glaucus ("glaucous")

Adult male Eastern Tiger Swallotail (Papilio glaucus) at Minnesota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Wingspan: 7.9-14cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large and impressive member of the Swallowtails that is endemic to the USA, their host plants are usually trees including ash, cottonwood, magnolia and willows and is considered the most diverse feeding of the entire swallowtail family. As catepillars, they begin their life resembling bird droppings to deter avian predators, and also possesses the ability to expel foul smelling chemicals called terpenes.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Resident in the Eastern USA
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in Minnesota and Illinois

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Tailed Judy (Archigenes neophron)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Archigenes (?) neophron (after a mythic trickster turned into a vulture)

 

Tailed Judy (Archigenes neophron) at Genting Highlands, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS /IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A butterfly whose main range is in the Indian subcontinent, but a small isolated population lives in Malaysia in the hills above Kuala Lumpur. They generally prefer montane forests up to 1750m in height.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Riodinidae 
Genus: Archigenes
SUBSPECIES: A. n. neophron, A. n. neophronides, A. n. gratius
 
- Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA 

A locallised resident in the highlands near Kuala Lumpur

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single individual at Genting Highlands  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Buff-Tip (Phalera bucephala)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Phalera (from a Greek/Latin metal disc) bucephala ("bull headed")

Adult Buff-Tip (Phalera bucephala) at Geddington, Northants, UK - May 2026

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ? /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 55-68mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A cryptic moth species which has evolved to look like a tiny piece of broken twig. They have been recorded using many different trees and shrubs as food plants, which has led to it being considered a pest on fruit trees at times. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Notodontidae
Genus: Phalera
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Geddington 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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