| Primary food plants: |
The larvae of this moth, Green-striped Mapleworms, may be serious pests on maple and oak trees. Adults do not feed. |
| Wingspan: |
1 5/16 - 2 1/16 in. (3.3 - 5.2 cm) |
| Season: |
April - September |
| Description: |
Forewings are pink except for the middle section (amount of pink is highly variable). The body and other areas may be white, cream, or yellow in coloration. |
Spiny Oakworm Moth (Anisota stigma)
| Primary food plants: |
Larvae feed on various oak species, and adults do not feed. |
| Wingspan: |
1 9/16 - 2 3/4 in. (4.0 - 7.0 cm) |
| Season: |
May - August |
| Description: |
Female moths are larger than males. The upper side is reddish-orange (males are redder than females) with small, black flecks scattered throughout and faint postmedian lines on both wings. The forewings have small, white cell spots. |
Pink-striped Oakworm Moth (Anisota virginiensis) - female
Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis)
| Primary food plants: |
Caterpillars feed on conifers and deciduous trees and shrubs, including pines, oaks, maples, sweet gum, and sassafras. Adults do not feed. |
| Wingspan: |
3 1/8 - 6 7/8 in. (7.9 - 17.5 cm)
|
| Season: |
April - October |
| Description: |
The upper wing surface is yellow with pinkish-brown to purplish-brown patches, bands, and cell spots. Tiny, brown flecks are scattered over the surface of the wings. Females may be distinguished from males by their larger body size and smaller patches on the forewings. Right photo courtesy of Patricia Slice. |
Subfamily Hemileucinae
Io Moth (Automeris io)
| Primary food plants: |
Larvae feed on a variety of plants, including clover, corn, maples, elms, birches, oaks, and willows. |
| Wingspan: |
2 - 3 1/5 in. (5.0 - 8.0 cm) |
| Season: |
May - September |
| Description: |
Males and females are sexually dimorphic. The forewings of males typically are orange, and those of females are brighter red. A distinguishing characteristic of this species is the black and blue "bull's-eye" with a white center located on the hindwing. |
Subfamily Saturniinae
Luna Moth (Actias luna)
| Primary food plants: |
Larvae feed on many trees, such as cherries, hickories, sweet gum, and willows. The photo of the luna moth caterpillar above was contributed by Dr. Ingo Schranz. Adult luna moths do not feed. |
| Wingspan: |
2 15/16 - 4 1/8 in. (7.5 - 10.5 cm) |
| Season: |
March - September |
| Description: |
Wing coloration is pale green with a transparent eyespot on each wing. Hindwings are drawn out into long, curving tails. |
Cecropia Silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia)
| Primary food plants: |
Caterpillars feed on various shrubs and trees, including wild cherry, sugar maple, dogwood, and birch trees. Adults do not feed. |
| Wingspan: |
4 1/3 - 5 9/10 in. (11.0 - 15.0 cm) |
| Season: |
March - July |
| Description: |
This moth is the largest North American moth. The body of the moth is red with a white "collar" and white bands on the abdomen. The wings are dark with whitish, hair-like scales, which gives a frosted appearance, and the forewings are red at the base. On each of the wings, the crescent spots and area outside of the postmedian line are reddish colored. |
Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
Left photo courtesy of Sharon Kovar. Center image of a polyphemus moth laying eggs courtesy of Al Pappagallo and Michele Rubac.
| Primary food plants: |
Larvae feed on various shrubs and trees, including oaks, pines, maples, hickories,grapes, ashes, birches, and members of the genus Prunus. |
| Wingspan: |
3 9/10 - 5 7/8 in. (10.0 - 15.0 cm) |
| Season: |
April - September |
| Description: |
The forewing coloration varies from brownish to reddish and is crossed by white antemedial lines and black postmedial lines edged with pink. An oval, transparent spot is located on each wing and is ringed with yellow, blue, and black. Notice that the rings around the spots on the hindwings are much larger than those located on the forewings. |
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