![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] caterpillar. Image: Angela Simpson](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/Gum_emperor_moth_Opodiphthera_eucalypti_caterpillar-Angela-Simpson__FitMaxWzg3Miw1NDVd.jpg)
Gum Emperor moth Opodiphthera eucalypti caterpillar. Image: Angela Simpson
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Saturniidae
Size range
- A large caterpillar, 90–100 mm long
Distribution
- Australian
- In New Zealand, North Island, Nelson, and Christchurch. Maybe also Dunedin.
Life history
- Caterpillar host plants are eucalyptus, pepper trees, silver birch, apricot, grape vines
- Damage can be extensive if there are large numbers of caterpillars
- For the adult to emerge from the hard, nut–like cocoon, it must rasp through the tough exterior. The sound of this process has been likened to a rat gnawing
Gallery
![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] eggs. Image: Ernst, JungleDragon Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/gum-emperor-moth-eggs-ernst-jungledragon__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)
![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] caterpillars - various stages. Image: The original uploader was Fir0002 at English Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/gum-emp-Caterpillars-various_stagesThe-original-uploader-was-Fir0002-at-English-WikipediaCC-BY-SA30__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)
![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] caterpillar. Image: Angela Simpson Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/680px-Gum_emperor_moth_Opodiphthera_eucalypti_caterpillar-Angela-Simpson__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)
![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] cocoon Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/680px-Opodiphthera_eucalypti_Emporer_Gum_cocoon-5__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.JPG)
![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] Image: Fir0002 talk (CC BY SA-3.0 Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/Caterpillars_cocoon-Fir0002-talk-Uploads-CC-BY-SA-httpcreativecommons__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.orglicensesby-sa3.0.jpg)
![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] cocoon. Image: Jaco Grundling (CC0) Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/Opodiphthera_eucalypti_55506680-Jaco-Grundling-CC0__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)
![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] (female) Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/opodiphthera_eucalypti_f__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)
![Gum Emperor moth [Opodiphthera eucalypti] (male) Image](/assets/Tools-And-Resources/Identification/What-is-this-bug/opodiphthera_eucalypti_m__ScaleWidthWzEwMjRd.jpg)