cecropia moth
(Hyalophora cecropia)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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| Hodges # | 7767 |
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Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Cecropia moth is a common, extra large, giant silkworm moth. It is one of the two largest moths native to North America. The number of cecropia moths has decreased in recent decades due to parasitism of a tachinid fly (Compsilura concinnata). The fly was introduced into North America in 1906 in an attempt to control the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar). Adults have a wingspan of 45 ⁄16″ to 5⅞″. The thorax is red above with a conspicuous white collar. The white collar is the forward apex of a broad, white, lateral stripe that extends from the thorax to the last abdominal segment. Each abdominal segment is red, outlined with a thin black line; has a fringe of white hairs at the end; and has a red spot in each lateral stripe. The wings are dark brown, gray, and blackish with numerous white scales giving them a frosted appearance. The basal area of the forewing has at least some red shading and is bordered with a thin white and a thin black antemedial line. Both wings have red shading outside a strong white postmedian line. The forewing has a crescent-shaped spot in the median area near the leading edge. Each hindwing has a crescent-shaped spot near the outer margin of the discal cell. All four spots are red fading to white in the center and outlined with black. There is an eyespot in the subapical area near the tip of the forewing. The head is red. There are no mouth parts and no hearing organs. The eyes are large and black. The antennae are feather-like and have branches on both sides of the central axis. The legs are red. Females have smaller, less bushy antennae and larger, more rounded abdomens. The caterpillar is frosted green and up to 4″ long. There is a pair of prominent knobs in the dorsal area on thoracic segments 2 and 3 (T2 and T3) and on abdominal segments 1 through 7 (A1–A7). Abdominal segment 8 (A8) has a single dorsal knob. The dorsal knobs on T2, T3, and A1 are more or less globe shaped and have several tufts of minute black spines (spinules). The dorsal knobs on A2–A8 are elongated and cylindrical. The dorsal knobs on T2 and T3 are yellowish-orange. Those on T3 and A1–A7 are bright yellow. There is also a solitary knob in the subdorsal and spiracular areas of T1–T3 and A1–A8, and in the subspiracular area of T1 through T3. These knobs are pale blue and rise from a pale blue base. The leg-like structures (prolegs) on the abdomen are yellowish-green at the base and greenish-yellow at the tip. Mature caterpillars can be found from late June through August. |
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Size |
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Wingspan: 45 ⁄16″ to 5⅞″ |
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Similar Species |
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| Columbia silkmoth (Hyalophora columbia) is a similar species found mostly in the western half of North America. The area outside the postmedian band is gray and does not have any red shading. The crescent spots are white, not red fading to white. On the caterpillar, the dorsal knobs are yellowish-white to yellowish-pink, not bright yellow. The lateral knobs are more white and emerge from black bases. | ||
Habitat |
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Woodlands, forests, fencerows, and suburbs |
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Biology |
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Season |
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Late May to early August |
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Behavior |
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When the adult is at rest the wings are open and flat. Adults are nocturnal, taking flight a few hours after sunset. They are attracted to lights. |
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Life Cycle |
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This moth is short-lived, lasting about two weeks, since it has no mouth parts and does not feed. There is one generation per year. The male uses its specialized antennae to detect pheromones released by the female. After breeding, the female lays a group of 3 to 30 large, somewhat flattened eggs in lines (rafts) of 3 to 10 eggs each on either side of a leaf of a host shrub or tree. The eggs hatch in 10 to 14 days and the newly emerged larvae begin feeding in groups on the leaves. Older caterpillars are solitary feeders. The larvae molt 5 or 6 times. In the fall the caterpillar spins a cocoon in which it will spend the winter. The cocoon is large and spindle-shaped. It is attached along its full length to a twig in a dark, protected area. The adult emerges in the spring. |
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Larva Hosts |
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Deciduous trees and shrubs including apple, ash, boxelder, cherry, poplar, willow, birch, elm, tamarack, and maple. |
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Adult Food |
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Adults do not feed. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 6/20/2020 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) | ||
Suborder |
Glossata | ||
Infraorder |
Neolepidoptera | ||
| Parvorder | Heteroneura | ||
| No Rank | Ditrysia | ||
| No Rank | Obtectomera | ||
Superfamily |
Bombycoidea (hawk-moths) | ||
No Rank |
Saturniiformes | ||
| Family | Saturniidae (giant silkworm and royal moths) | ||
Subfamily |
Saturniinae | ||
Tribe |
Attacini | ||
Genus |
Hyalophora | ||
Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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cecropia moth cecropia silkmoth |
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Glossary
Proleg
A fleshy structure on the abdomen of some insect larvae that functions as a leg, but lacks the five segments of a true insect leg.
Spinule
Minute spines.
Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this insect. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Stephanie Davis |
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This moth landed on out front steps and has been hanging out all day |
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Ron Cram |
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Nathan Johnson |
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On our deck hanging out on my kids little tikes grill |
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Ali Kay |
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| My husband was on the roof cleaning off the gutters when he saw the chrysalis. We put it in a safe spot until she hatched. She hatched, and not even 5 hours later was there a male attached to her. We watched it all happen. And we have the males body as a keepsake. |  |
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Cheryl Esterbrooks |
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Heidi |
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Elizabeth A |
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Amy E. |
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Found this one the evening of 7/2 in Canby. |
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Norm & Peg Dibble |
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| Hanging out on our garage brick front where she? matched the colors. So exciting! |  |
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Anne Kane |
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Rachel |
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Beautiful, hung out on this shovel handle all day |
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Shawna Stuber |
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Jaimee |
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Heather D. |
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Valerie Torgerson |
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Found in backyard. Huge! |
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Sara Emmerich |
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| Found on side of my home in mid June. Approximate 6" wingspan. Really interesting, fuzzy body, large antenna. Was amazed by the snake like camouflage. |  |
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LaVonne Redding |
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On the outside wall at our local Dollar General. |
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Becky DLC |
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| Has been sitting on the side of our garage for 3 days. Sometimes its wings are folded, other times fully open. Beautiful! |  |
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Marilyn Juhl |
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JBalonis |
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Grace and Molly Jacobs |
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| this one was caught in the rain and couldn’t fly. Will release when quits raining |  |
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Corryn T |
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| A cool sighting in Lake of the Woods County! It's a good year for butterflies and moths up here. |  |
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Theresa Zaske |
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Trisha S. |
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Nicole Feehery |
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| 2 cocoons and a moth hanging in the vines by my blooming apple tree this year! |  |
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Michelle Shores |
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Caterpillar Could it be that it may have hitch-hiked here on a small Maple tree my friend recieved from a fellow friend in Perham?? Saw it on the sidewalk. |
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Kristi Buysse |
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Found dead specimen in my fruit orchard. |
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Janet Jones |
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gorgeous |
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Amy |
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Barb Maus |
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Drying out after overnight rain. |
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Brad |
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Jenny |
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| was on pavement of entranceway. Wings were not laid flat. Was windy outside and moth looked like it was struggling for stability due to wind. Put my finger out and moth crawled into my hand and sat there. Then it started to crawl and wiggled its forelegs bicycle style like it was letting me know it was ready to fly. It flew off and landed on a tall broad leaved deciduous landscaped shrub. Abdomen was very round...thinking it might have been a female? |  |
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Megan MacFarlane |
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Todd Jacobson |
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Adele Dahm |
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Melody |
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Beth Chihak |
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Marie Hlava |
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Seen about 415am |
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Angee |
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Joanne |
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Bill Reynolds |
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This one had a wing span about 6 inches. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Cecropia Moth - Hodges#7767 (Hyalophora cecropia) Andree Reno Sanborn |
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| Hyalophora cecropia (Cecropia Moth) Allen Chartier |
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| Cecropia Moth Cocoon Emergence: of Challenge and Change, Pt3. David Britton |
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About
Uploaded on Jun 25, 2010 Cecropia moth emergence from a cocoon is detailed. Watch a pupa change color as it awakes from diapause and prepares to eclose as a moth. Witness how little flabby pads are transformed into large beautiful wings suitable for flight. See mating and propagation followed by recycling. This video is part of a full complete metamorphosis lifecycle edition. To see more go to http://lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this insect. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Barb Maus |
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| Cecropia moth 01 Published on Jun 19, 2018 |
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About
Published 6/19/2018 Drying out after overnight rain. |
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Other Videos |
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| Giant Cecropia Moth Kimberly Pineda |
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About
Published on Jul 17, 2012 The Cecropia Moth is native to North America but rarely seen. The wings are about 6.5" on this moth. It was found near Port Stanley, ON in the garden. Research indicates this moth does not have a mouth once the metamorphosis from caterpillar to moth takes place. Its purpose is solely to reproduce. A very cool discovery! |
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| Hyalophora cecropia Moth Lifecycle LOBAM! |
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About
Uploaded on Apr 28, 2011 Hyalophora cecropia Moth Lifecycle |
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| Cecropia Moth Caterpillar NCJAVIDEO |
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About
Uploaded on Sep 7, 2009 9-7-2009 Video of a Cecropia Moth Caterpillar found outside Asheville, NC. These amazing caterpillars are over 4 inches long and become the largest moths in North America. They spin large brown cocoons that weather to gray. The moths take flight in May or June. There is one generation per year. |
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| Cecropia Moth Cocoon Cut Open and the Pupa Removed floridabutterflyfarm |
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About
Uploaded on Aug 22, 2011 A Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia) cocoon can be cut open and the pupa removed without harming the moth inside. A cocoon is a silk 'sleeping bag' made by the caterpillar. Inside the cocoon, over the next few days the caterpillar pupates into a pupa. The pupa is simply the caterpillar without its skin - it literally wiggles out of its skin. The cocoon can be cut open, the pupa removed, and the moth will emerge without problem. Popular opinion is wrong - it doesn't need to strengthen itself with the struggle to emerge from the cocoon. The cocoon is simply a 'nest' that protects the pupa from many (but not all) predators. In this video, we cut open a Cecropia Silk Moth cocoon and take out the pupa. The abdomen of the pupa is flexible, the abdominal segments move back and forth easily. If the pupa is dead, the segments freeze into place and they cannot be moved. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this insect. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Susan and Ron Cram 6/28/2021 |
Location: Pipestone, MN spotted mating pair on trail |
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| Stephanie Davis 6/21/2021 |
Location: Champlin, Mn. This moth landed on out front steps and has been hanging out all day |
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| MothSpotter2020 6/25/2020 |
Location: Forest Lake, MN This moth was found at the base of the street light in our neighborhood a couple hours before sunset. |
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| Ron Cram 6/24/2020 |
Location: Canby MN, Yellow Medicine County |
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| Ali Kay 6/19/2020 |
Location: Edina, Minnesota My husband was on the roof cleaning off the gutters when he saw the chrysalis. We put it in a safe spot until she hatched. She hatched, and not even 5 hours later was there a male attached to her. We watched it all happen. And we have the males body as a keepsake. |
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| Cheryl Esterbrooks 6/16/2020 |
Location: Knife River, Minnesota |
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| Heidi 7/9/2019 |
Location: Lyon County Courthouse |
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| aghartz 7/12/2019 |
Location: Aalpha, MN , Jackson County Beautiful. I have never seen one before and have lived on this farm for 25 years. |
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| Elizabeth A 7/8/2019 |
Location: Victoria, MN. Rhapsody neighborhood! |
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| Amy E. 7/4/2019 |
Location: Canby, MN Found this one the evening of 7/2 in Canby. |
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| Chris M. 7/3/2019 |
Location: Apple valley, MN |
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| Norm & Peg Dibble 7/2/2019 |
Location: Maple Grove, MN Gorgeous, never saw one that we remember. |
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| Steve Sandberg 6/30/2019 |
Location: Champlin, MN |
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| Anne Kane 7/1/2019 |
Location: White Bear Lake, Ramsey County |
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| Rachel 6/30/2019 |
Location: Morton, MN Beautiful, hung out on this shovel handle all day |
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| Shawna Stuber 6/30/2019 |
Location: Litchfield Minnesota, Meeker County |
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| Jaimee 6/29/2019 |
Location: Bemidji, MN |
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| Heather D. 6/28/2019 |
Location: Wright County, MN |
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| Valerie Torgerson 6/26/2019 |
Location: Spring Grove, MN Found in backyard. Huge! |
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| Sara Emmerich 6/25/2019 |
Location: Cedar, MN Found on side of my home in mid June. Approximate 6" wingspan. Really interesting, fuzzy body, large antenna. Was amazed by the snake like camouflage. |
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| Grace and Molly Jacobs 6/24/2019 |
Location: Springfield, MN this one was caught in the rain and couldn’t fly. Will release when quits raining |
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| JBalonis 6/24/2019 |
Location: Goodview, Mn |
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| Marilyn Juhl 6/24/2019 |
Location: Centerville, MN |
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| Becky DLC 6/24/2019 |
Location: Minnetonka, MN Has been sitting on the side of our garage for 3 days. Sometimes its wings are folded, other times fully open. Beautiful! |
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| Corryn T 6/21/2019 |
Location: Baudette, MN A cool sighting in Lake of the Woods County! It's a good year for butterflies and moths up here. |
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| tfarland 6/21/2019 |
Location: New Hope found a pair mating on the bush in front of our house. |
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| Theresa Zaske 6/17/2019 |
Location: Marshall, Minnesota (Lyon County) cloudy day, about 62 outside. It was sitting on the sidewalk. Beautiful. |
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| Trisha S. 6/16/2019 |
Location: Douglas County |
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| LaVonne Redding 6/14/2019 |
Location: Barnesville, MN On the outside wall at our local Dollar General. |
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| Nicole Feehery 6/8/2019 |
Location: Duluth, MN 55807 (St Louis County) 2 cocoons and a moth hanging in the vines by my blooming apple tree this year! |
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| Sheryl Erickson 6/8/2019 |
Location: S. Minneapolis 4 blocks south of Minnehaha Creek beautiful and amazing |
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| Michelle Shores 8/24/2018 |
Location: Osakis, MN Could it be that it may have hitch-hiked here on a small Maple tree my friend recieved from a fellow friend in Perham?? Saw it on the sidewalk. |
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| Janet Jones 6/27/2018 |
Location: Renvile County, MN Found dead specimen in my fruit orchard. |
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| Kristi Buysse 6/27/2018 |
Location: Apple orchard on farm near Franklin, MN Wingspan over 6 inches. Mulberries plentiful this year. Beautiful! |
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| Janet Jones 6/21/2018 |
Location: South Minneapolis near Minnehaha Creek gorgeous |
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| Dave H. 6/19/2018 |
Location: Elk River |
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| Doug Roller 6/20/2018 |
Location: spring valley mn |
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| Amy 6/19/2018 |
Location: Garden City, MN, Blue Earth County |
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| Barb Maus 6/19/2018 |
Location: Rollingstone, MN |
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| Brad 6/18/2018 |
Location: SW Rochester, MN |
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| Jenny 6/18/2018 |
Location: outside Century College, White Bear Lake MN was on pavement of entranceway. Wings were not laid flat. Was windy outside and moth looked like it was struggling for stability due to wind. Put my finger out and moth crawled into my hand and sat there. Then it started to crawl and wiggled its forelegs bicycle style like it was letting me know it was ready to fly. It flew off and landed on a tall broad leaved deciduous landscaped shrub. Abdomen was very round...thinking it might have been a female? |
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| Megan MacFarlane 6/18/2018 |
Location: outside Joann Fabrics in the Ridgedale Center parking lot |
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| Jonathan Mathes 6/18/2018 |
Location: Golden Valley Beautiful moth attracted to my Honeysuckle vine currently in full bloom. Also attracted to my porch light so I turned it off and this gorgeous specimen flew away, hopefullly to mate. |
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| Petra Fager 6/14/2018 |
Location: Johnsville area of Blaine on a maple tree |
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| Jason 5/29/2018 |
Location: Onamia Wingspan of 5-5 1/2” |
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| Terry Jandt 6/30/2017 |
Location: Downtown New Prague , mn |
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| Adele Dahm 6/12/2017 |
Location: Elk River |
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| Todd Jacobson 6/4/2017 |
Location: Buffalo River State Park, Glyndon, MN |
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| Melody 6/3/2017 |
Location: Aitkin, MN |
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| Beth Chihak 6/23/2016 |
Location: Olmsted County |
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| Marie Hlava 6/16/2016 |
Location: Kwik Trip Pine Island MN Seen about 415am |
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| Angee 6/8/2016 |
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN |
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| Joanne 5/26/2016 |
Location: Pine City |
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| Carol 9/24/2015 |
Location: Rochester, MN |
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| Libby 6/20/2015 |
Location: Edina, Mn |
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| Todd 6/14/2014 |
Location: Oakdale, Mn |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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