Opodiphthera eucalypti

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Opodiphthera eucalypti
A female emperor gum moth
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Genus: Opodiphthera
Species:
O. eucalypti
Binomial name
Opodiphthera eucalypti
(Scott, 1864)
Synonyms

Antheraea eucalypti Scott, 1864

Opodiphthera eucalypti, the emperor gum moth, is a species of moth in the family Saturniidae native to Australia. This species was formerly placed in the genus Antheraea.

Distribution

The emperor gum moth may inhabit all states of Australia, however it is scarce in the more southerly states where the climate is less suitable. They are also found as an introduced species on both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Caterpillars

The caterpillar of the emperor gum moth in its last stage before pupation

hairs are not poisonous and will not sting. As the caterpillars mature they change color each time they shed their skin (which totals to five stages in the caterpillar's appearance). The fully grown caterpillars are usually found on the highest branches of the host tree where the leaves are the youngest and easiest to digest. By the final stage before pupation the caterpillars have developed striking coloration, having a yellow/cream stripe down their bright green/blue body and nodes of red and blue. Despite this they are still surprisingly hard to spot. The caterpillar stage in the emperor gum moth's life cycle can last for many weeks, depending on the temperature and weather
conditions.

Cocoon

The emperor gum moth in its tough brown cocoon

When the caterpillar is fully

pupal
life stage. Within a day of spinning completion, the cocoon sets to a hard waterproof shell with a rough exterior and a smooth interior wall. Air holes can be seen along the side of the cocoon indicating that the cocoon is probably otherwise airtight. The moth usually emerges from the cocoon the following year, in spring or early summer.

When the

forewing. The effort to release itself from the cocoon is vital for its wings
to expand and dry after emerging. Pupae cut from the cocoon will hatch, but the moths' wings will never expand.

Adult moths

The emperor gum moth does not feed after it emerges from the cocoon, relying solely on the energy it stored as a caterpillar. Their adult life span is limited to a couple of weeks in which they mate, lay eggs and die. The moths, like the caterpillars, are very striking in appearance. The emperor gum moth is a very large moth, having a wingspan of 120 to 150 mm. Females are generally larger than males. The furry wings and body are multi-colored, but are in overall tones of pale reddish/brown. The wings are decorated with four prominent ‘eyes’ and various other markings in a symmetrical formation. The antennae of the males are feathery, while the females' are thinner and with fewer hairs.

Biological significance

This insect was the first used in the successful development of continuous insect

cell cultures. Dr. Thomas D. C. Grace, a researcher with CSIRO, developed four cell lines from the ovaries of this insect and reported on them in 1962.[1]
This was a significant breakthrough since efforts to grow insect cells in culture had been attempted for decades previously. Modifications of the medium used in these efforts, Grace's insect medium, is still in use today for growing many of the insect cell lines that have since been developed (approximately 600 distinct cell lines from more than 125 insect species).

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Opodiphthera eucalypti.
  1. S2CID 4154347
    .

Additional images

  • Eggs after the caterpillars have hatched
    Eggs after the caterpillars have hatched
  • Caterpillars at second and third stages in their growth
    Caterpillars at second and third stages in their growth
  • Caterpillar at fourth stage of growth. Its recently shed third stage skin is visible beside it
    Caterpillar at fourth stage of growth. Its recently shed third stage skin is visible beside it
  • Caterpillar feeding on a eucalyptus leaf
    Caterpillar feeding on a eucalyptus leaf
  • Caterpillar spinning its silken cocoon on a eucalyptus twig
    Caterpillar spinning its silken cocoon on a eucalyptus twig
  • Proof of WA sighting. Taken 10 Nov 2007 in Albany WA
    Proof of WA sighting. Taken 10 Nov 2007 in Albany WA
  • An adult male emperor gum moth
    An adult male emperor gum moth
  • An adult female emperor gum moth
    An adult female emperor gum moth
  • An adult emperor gum moth
    An adult emperor gum moth
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