Saturnia pyri (1) Insect Night Butterfly Moth Saturnid Saturniidae

Saturnia pyri Female one wing lenght cm 6 Insect Night Butterfly Moth Saturnid Saturniidae, A1/A1- quality (specimen has small imperfections), only a piece, as in the packaging in the photo.
Family: Saturniidae.
Common name: The Giant Peacock Moth, Great Peacock Moth, Giant Emperor Moth or Viennese Emperor.
Syn. Bombyx pyri.

Widespread in Europe, North Africa, Asia and North America, it owes its common name to the fact that the caterpillars feed mainly on pear leaves (Pyrus), but can also feed on apple leaves (Malus domestica), walnut (Juglans), poplar (Populus), elm (Ulmus), apricot (Prunus armeniaca), cherry (Prunus avium) and several other trees of the genus Prunus.
It is one of the largest Italian moths. The female reaches a wingspan of 150-160 mm, the male is a little smaller. The caterpillar of this species is characterized by a beautiful green color with blue tubercles and when ripe it can measure up to 10 cm. For this reason, it can sometimes be harmful to orchards. On the wings it has decorations in the shape of eyes to surprise the predator and / or deflect its attacks away from the vital parts. Reached the maximum age, the caterpillar weaves a large pyriform silk cocoon of brown color and inside which nymphosis takes place. It will spend one or more winters in the form of a chrysalis, after which the adult will flicker, in spring, in a period that goes from April to June.
The adult is unable to feed itself as it has an atrophied mouth apparatus, which is why it will live the time necessary to ensure the reproduction and continuity of the species.
The adult male has two pectin-like antennae (filiform in the female) with which it captures the odor signal of the female even at a distance of 2 km. The female, for its part, produces sexual pheromones, which guide the male to their encounter.
Even a few hours after mating, the female lays her eggs and runs out of the last energy reserves accumulated by the caterpillar, while the male can mate at other times.
These moths are energetic fliers and can sometimes be mistaken for bats.