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

Description Glover’s Silk Moth is a member of the family Saturniidae. Giant silkworms, with wingspans of 1 1/8-5 7/8" (30-150 mm), are our largest moths. Most are brightly colored, and some species have large, transparent eyespots on the wings. The antennae are large and often feathery. These moths do not have hearing organs, or tympana. The short-lived adults have vestigial mouthparts and do not feed. They are usually seen at night, clinging to window screens or fluttering like bats around streetlights. Some species lay eggs singly, others in small groups, and still others in large masses. The caterpillars are smooth or spiny and generally feed on the foliage of trees. In many species the caterpillars spin a tough cocoon, which may be attached to a twig or hidden in fallen leaves, but in a few cases the pupa occupies a small chamber in the soil instead of a cocoon. Most species overwinter as pupae. These large moths are not closely related to the true Asiatic silkworm, although largely unsuccessful attempts have been made to utilize commercially the silk from their cocoon.