Eacles imperialis
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
Eacles imperialis, the imperial moth, is a member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. It is found mainly in the East of South America and North America, from the center of Argentina to south Canada. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.
The wingspan of an adult is between 80 and 175 mm (3+1⁄8 and 6+7⁄8 inches). There is a high amount of variation within this species. The colors of the adult are always primarily yellow with red, brown, and purple blotches but can vary distinctly on this. Light and dark morphs of this species are found in both the northern and southern regions of their range. Individuals from the northern regions of their native range may tend to have fewer dark markings. Larvae can be small (approximately 10–15 mm long) and orange with black transverse bands and large spines in the first instar, to 3–5.5 inches (75–100 mm) long in the fifth instar with long hairs and shorter spines and color morphs varying between dark brown and burgundy with white spiracle patches, and green with yellow spiracle patches.
Imperial moths (their many regional morphs, subspecies, and sibling species) range from Argentina... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Itatiaia National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Palo Verde National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Calakmul Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 8 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 10 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 11 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 12 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 14 | Parque Natural Metropolitano | 🇵🇦 Panama |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campo Grande | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Buenos Aires | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 3 | Montevideo | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | |
| 4 | Curitiba | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 5 | Porto Alegre | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 6 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Panama City | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 8 | Orlando | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Baltimore | 🇺🇸 United States |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report an Imperial Moth sighting in Itatiaia National Park on a given day, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 60 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report an Imperial Moth in Itatiaia National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March–August and November–December, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Imperial Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Yes
Of the 14 parks where we can rate Imperial Moth sightings, Itatiaia National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Palo Verde National Park (Costa Rica, about 30%) and Santa Rosa National Park (Costa Rica, about 30%).
Same family: Saturniidae
The closest relatives of the Imperial Moth that you can see in Itatiaia National Park (family Saturniidae, Emperor and Giant Silk Moths) are Procitheronia principalis (about 20%), Dirphia triangulum (about 20%) and Citheronia brissotii (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Imperial Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Itatiaia National Park (23 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
