The Largest Moth In North America: Strikingly Beautiful Cecropia Moth

The cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia Linnaeus) is among the most spectacular of the North American Lepidoptera. It is a member of the Saturniidae, a family of moths prized by collectors and nature lovers alike for their large size and extremely showy appearance.

Larvae feed on more than 20 species of Missouri trees and shrubs, notably various maples (including box elder), willows, cherries, plums, apples, dogwoods, and lilacs. As with other giant silk moths, the mouthparts of the adults are small or absent; the adults live for only a few weeks without feeding, relying on food consumed and stored when they were caterpillars.