A royal visitor

An imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) made a daytime appearance Thursday on the West Plains court square. A member of the Saturniidae family of giant silk moths — which includes cecropia, luna and polyphemus moths — the species is native to Missouri from mid-spring to late summer. This individual, featuring a 3.5-inch wingspan, is likely male due to the heavy brown patterning used as camouflage among dead leaves. Imperial moths live only a few days to a week as adults to mate and lay eggs on host trees such as maples, sycamores and sassafras, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. After eating and molting several times, Imperial moth caterpillars spin a cocoon and overwinter in underground burrows before emerging as adults, which are mostly active at night.