Fun Pale Beauty Moth Facts For Kids

The words 'moth' and 'beauty' don’t tend to go together, but the pale beauty moth (Campaea perlata) is an exception to this rule! Are you wondering why they got this name?

The typical pale beauty moth appearance includes a pale, greenish-white color and shimmery wings, which are both quite beautiful. They were first named by the French entomologist, Achille Guenee in 1858. In their scientific name, 'perlata' is a classic Latin word that means 'beauty'.

Included in the Lepidoptera order and the Arthropoda phylum, this moth is also a member of the Geometridae family which is one of the largest families of nocturnal moths. They are spread across multiple regions in America.

Not only are they interesting as moths, but their caterpillars are also simple yet fascinating. However, if you ever happen to come across this caterpillar it is better to keep your hands off as coming in contact with their hair might elicit an aggressive immunological response in some people.

If you are looking for more pale beauty moth information, keep reading and do check out our other articles on the five-spotted hawk moth and the painted lady butterfly to learn even more.

Pale Beauty Moth Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a pale beauty moth?

The pale beauty (Campaea perlata) is a nocturnal insect belonging to the Arthropoda phylum and the Lepidoptera order.

What class of animal does a pale beauty moth belong to?

These moths are a part of the Insecta class of the Animalia kingdom.

How many pale beauty moths are there in the world?

The family Geometridae has 1441 species with five sub-families and 35,000 species across the world. However, the precise population size of this moth species has not been recorded.

Where does a pale beauty moth live?

Their natural habitat is found among deciduous trees in the forests of North America. Their distribution range extends from the south of the United States to North Carolina.

These birds are scattered throughout Alaska and California. According to their distribution map, this species is also prevalent in northern Canada and Nova Scotia. The Campea perlata is found living in south-central California, Arizona, and Colorado.

What is a pale beauty moth's habitat?

The pale beauty (Campaea perlata) inhabits coniferous forests, mixed forests, and regions with deciduous trees. They may also be located in dense shrubby regions. This species of North America is only found roaming through human environments on rare occasions, and only at night when we are fast asleep.

Who do pale beauty moths live with?

These moths are solitary insects and they live on their own. They like to dwell in remote areas away from predators and other threats.

How long does a pale beauty moth live?

It is difficult to estimate their lifetime or life expectancy due to a lack of information from studies of this moth. However, according to research, this species survives for quite a long period since only two generations are observed every year.

How do they reproduce?

Eggs are laid by these moths to reproduce. The adult female deposits a small number of yellow, spherical eggs on tree leaves.

These pale beauty moth eggs become crimson in the next few days. The moths usually only generate two or three viable eggs that hatch and these are kept apart from the other eggs.

The larvae look like stems and branches, and new caterpillars that are brown can be spotted once the eggs hatch. They build hoop-like structures while hanging from trees and their speckled brown color helps them blend in with the branches of the woods.

They turn to a pale green tint within a week or so. In around 20-25 days, the caterpillars mature and start consuming food.

What is their conservation status?

The global conservation status of pale beauty (Campaea perlata) as reviewed in 2017 is G5, indictaing that their population is secure. They have not been evaluated by the IUCN.

However, there is a steady decrease in their population in several areas of Canada and North Carolina so they might be classified as a G3-vulnerable species within the next few generations.

Pale Beauty Moth Fun Facts

What do pale beauty moths look like?

Adults are primarily pale green, mild yellow, or white which makes their identification easier. Their pale green or gray-white wings are crossed by two conspicuous lines, one shorter and the other longer. The shorter line curved inward begins from the wings ends near the head.

The long line is right beneath, across the bottom section of the wings, and is highlighted with dark mossy green. The lines are horizontal when the wings are at rest and in-flight these lines are vertical. They have white eyes and feather-like antenna.

Larvae have a small brown body embedded with short hair-like fringes running down the dorsal margin. This color helps in camouflaging. The female is way larger than the male.

How cute are they?

Moths are generally disliked by the majority of humans. This species, on the other hand, does not is particularly special. They have smooth scales that look as soft as silk and this gives them a flawless appearance. They are aesthetically pleasing to watch.

How do they communicate?

Moths communicate to attract mates, which is usually accomplished through the use of a wide color spectrum. They are nocturnal, meaning they only fly at night. As a result, colors are largely ineffective at this time.

They also communicate with others using auditory or chemical signals. To communicate, both males and females emit a fragrance that is unique to each individual. They also make noises by rubbing their body parts together to signal danger.

How big is a pale beauty moth?

The average wingspan of adult moths is 1-2 in (28-51 mm). This moth is two times bigger than the poodle moth.

How fast can a pale beauty moth fly?

They can fly at a medium speed, not greater than 33 mph (53 kph). The precise speed at which they travel is not recorded.

How much does a pale beauty moth weigh?

Their exact weight is unknown. Since they are small, it is likely that they weigh very little.

What are their male and female names of the species?

Though females are larger than males they are very similar and do not have any different names.

What would you call a baby pale beauty moth?

A pale beauty moth caterpillar is known as a fringed looper. This term was given to them because they tend to form loops on trees as they move about. A baby of this species is known as a pale beauty moth baby.

What do they eat?

They are herbivores and they consume a large variety of food. Caterpillars are said to eat leaves of coniferous and deciduous trees.

Alder, ash,  beech, birch, blueberry, buffaloberry, plum, pine, elm, hemlock, maple, oak, fir, poplar, rose, spruce, tamarack, and willow plants are all eaten by adults. An adult male is also often seen sipping flower nectars.

They are eaten mainly by birds, especially the Louisiana waterthrush and they may possibly be seen as prey by insectivores like bats, lizards, and owls.

Are they dangerous?

They are mildly dangerous. Despite their intimidating appearance, caterpillars do not harm humans. Adult moths won't sting unless they believe they are in danger.

Would they make a good pet?

They do not make good pets. Moths in general are a source of contamination. They can contaminate both human and pet meals, such as pellets, causing digestive issues in other pets in your house. Leaving them in their natural habitat is the best choice.

Did you know...

When it comes to the pale beauty moth, similar species include the pale oak beauty moth. This moth has dark spots and a brown line on the wings that help in identification and differentiation of the two species.

The genus Campaea has five other species identified in North America, Canada, India, and China.

Their flight period is between May and September in the south and July in the arctic.

How do you identify a pale beauty moth?

The Campaea margaritata and Campaea perlata species are very similar species of the family Geometridae. Identification of the two is possible only if you take a closer look. The latter has white legs and feather-like antennae with black eyes that may set them apart from all other similar species. The Campaea margaritata has orangish antennae and legs.

What role does a pale beauty moth play in the ecosystem?

This species is not just adored for its beauty, but also for its contribution to the ecosystem. They act as nutrient recyclers, playing a major role in the flow of the food chain while aiding in pollination and seed development processes.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these articles on puss moth facts and American dagger moth facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our free printable pale beauty moth coloring pages.