The Jeweled Moth has two broad, round forewings and two long tapering hindwings; both have eyespots on them. Additionally, they have two eyes, six legs, a short, thick, body divided into three part; head, thorax, and abdomen, and two feathered antennae. The females have thicker and heavier bodies than the males.

Both male and female adults are similar in size, though the female's body is thicker and heavier while the male's antenna is more feathered. As a caterpillar, they are covered in hair, spiny tubercles, and has a yellow stripe on each side.

Like all moths, the Jeweled Moth reproduces via egg laying. The female attracts a mate by releasing a pheromone to let males know its ready to mate, the male attaches to the female and fertilizes the eggs internally. The female will then lay 400-600 fertilized eggs 4-7 eggs at a time on the undersides of leaves. These eggs will then incubate for 8-13 days.

Growth Rate & Stages

Egg:

Its an egg. Tiny, yellow, oval with a flat bottom. Stage lasts 8-13 days.

Tiny and incredibly vulnerable, the newly hatched caterpillar emerges from the egg and immediately begins to consume the leaf its egg was laid on. During this initial feeding, they molt twice before moving on to a different plant. On average, they will molt five times before they cocoon. After their final molt, these caterpillars are typically 5.5 inches long and have a bright green color with numerous spikes running along its body. It usually takes around 3-4 weeks for it to grow to its full size.

After reaching its full length, the caterpillar is ready to pupate. Hanging from a branch, the caterpillar creates a long and slender, double walled cocoon using its silk and leaves. It typically takes them 12 hours to finish building their cocoon. They will then stay in their new home for the next 10-14 days.

Emerging from its cocoon, the adult's abdomen is swollen, and its wings are shriveled and weak. It will spend the first 24-hours of its life waiting for its wings to dry and pumping hemolymph from its abdomen to its wings. Once its wings are dry and filled with hemolymph, their wingspan reaches a massive 12 inches. The adult then spends the rest of its life, roughly eight and a half months, eating and mating.