Page 404 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Southern Canada, most of the United States east of
the Rocky Mountains
HABITAT Forested areas where host plants can be found
HOST PLANTS Decidous trees and bushes, including cherry (Prunus spp.),
oak (Quercus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), Sweetgum (Liquidambar
styraci ua ), and Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
NOTE One of the largest North American caterpillars
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common throughout most of its range

ADULT WINGSPAN
6 in (152 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
4½ in (114 mm)
HYALOPHORA CECROPIA
CECROPIA MOTH
402
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Newly hatched from large, cream-colored eggs mottled in
reddish brown, Cecropia Moth caterpillars are black and covered
in bristles. Although eggs may be laid in small groups, the larvae

are solitary feeders and quickly go o on their own. When they
enter the second instar they are yellow and still covered in black
bristles growing from tubercles that will become blue, orange,
or yellow. It is when the caterpillars reach the third instar
that they begin to take on the stunning colors for which they

The Cecropia Moth caterpillar has a bright are renowned.
green ground color, and protuberances on
the thoracic segments are usually red. Along

its abdominal segments the protuberances are Two types of cocoon may be formed during pupation. The rst
yellow, and those along the sides of the body
are blue. The protuberances may include short, is tightly woven and compact, the second more loose and baggy.
black bristles, but they are not urticating. Sometimes leaves are incorporated into the cocoon, helping to
conceal it from predators during the winter, which is the only
time the caterpillars pupate. The large Cecropia Moth, which is
ash gray mixed with red, tan, and white, is also called the Robin
Moth because in ight it could be mistaken for a bird.

Actual size