Family: Saturniidae, Giant Silkworm Moths view all from this family

Description Wingspan 4 3/4-5 7/8" (120-150 mm). Wings speckled gray-brown with rusty shading, especially near body, and have white crescents (lunules), white and red crossbands, tawny outer margin, and pale lilac tip with eyespots. Body dull red-orange with white collar and white rings on abdomen. Caterpillar, to 4 3/8" (110 mm), is green with bluish shading on sides and back and covered with numerous red, yellow, and bluish tubercles.

Life Cycle Caterpillar eats the foliage of many trees and shrubs, including ash, birch, alder, elm, maple, wild cherry, willow, apple, and lilac.

Flight May or June.

Habitat Open areas, often in and around cities.

Range East of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and southern Canada.

Discussion This is the largest North American moth. Its caterpillars spin large brown cocoons that weather to gray. The cocoon is attached along one entire side to a branch, sometimes incorporating the branch and even twigs into its structure. There is 1 generation a year.