page_title: Eacles imperialis
section_title: Life cycle
hierarchical_section_title: Eacles imperialis / Life cycle
caption_attribution_description: English: Larval development of the imperial moth (Eacles imperialis). Legend: A- Freshly laid eggs B- Eggs about to hatch C- Newly hatched, first instar caterpillar. Normally they turn around and eat their own egg shells when they hatch. D- older first-instar caterpillars. E- Second instar F- Third instar G- fourth instar H- Fifth instar I- Pupa. Eacles imperialis late fifth instar larvae go to the forest floor and burrow. They then pupate in the ground.
context_page_description: Eacles imperialis, the imperial moth, is a Nearctic member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.
context_section_description: There is only one brood a year.
  Imperial moth larvae are polyphagous with many recorded hosts. However, there are probably regional differences in food preferences. The following plant species are the most commonly reported hosts for the imperial moth: pine species, maple species, oak species, sweetgum, and sassafras.
caption: Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) development from egg to pupa
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