Page 430 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION China and Korea, but naturalized in Japan and other areas across
Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Australia
HABITAT Lowland forests in China, and in parks and gardens in areas
where naturalized
HOST PLANTS Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and various shrubs
NOTE Distinctive, silk-producing caterpillar found in many
urban areas
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
4⅛–5½ in (105–140 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2¾–3 in (70–75 mm)
SAMIA CYNTHIA
AILANTHUS SILKMOTH
428
(DRURY, 1773)

The Ailanthus Silkmoth caterpillar—used to produce wild
silk—hatches from pale eggs laid in crescent-shaped rows of
10 to 20 on leaves up to 20 days earlier. The young caterpillars
are yellow with black-tipped tubercles, becoming pale green

with age. They are gregarious at rst but move apart in the latter
stages, becoming solitary. The caterpillar spins a grayish cocoon
attached to the petiole of a leaf on the host plant.

Ailanthus Silkmoths y in early summer and, in some parts of
their range, there may be a second generation in late summer.
The Ailanthus Silkmoth caterpillar is pale The silkmoth is native to China and Korea, where its cocoons
green to white with two rows of distinctive, white were rst collected for wild silk, but has been introduced across

tubercles down the back and a lateral row of
small, black spots. The head is pale green, and the world in an attempt to establish new silk industries. It is now
there are ridges of pale blue near the prolegs.
The whole body has a powdery appearance. found in many cities and towns where the ornamental Tree
of Heaven is grown. A related species, Samia ricini, is fully
domesticated for the production of eri silk, the term “eri” being
derived from an Assamese word referring to the Castor-oil Plant
(Ricinus communis) on which the caterpillars feed.

Actual size