Cecropia Moth

Hyalophora cecropia, the cecropia moth, is North America's largest native moth. It is a member of the family Saturniidae, or giant silk moths. Females have been documented with a wingspan of five to seven inches or more. These moths can be found predominantly across eastern North America, with occurrences as far west as Washington and north into the majority of Canadian provinces. Cecropia moth larvae are most commonly found on maple trees, but they have also been found on cherry and birch trees, among many others. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Scientific Name: Hyalophora cecropia Range: Eastern North America Size: Wingspan 13–18 cm — largest moth in North America Status: Native ID Notes: Brown body with red collar; wings have white crescents bordered with red, black, and white. Large eyespots on each wing. Behavior / Notes: North America's largest native moth. Females release pheromones that males can detect from over 1 km away.