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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths (Saturniidae) » Silkmoths (Saturniinae) » Attacini » Samia » Ailanthus Silkmoth - Hodges#7759 (Samia cynthia)

Species Samia cynthia - Ailanthus Silkmoth - Hodges#7759

Classification · Hodges Number · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
First instar - Samia cynthia - Samia cynthia first, second n third instars - Samia cynthia - Samia cynthia Samia cynthia - Samia cynthia
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)
Family Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)
Subfamily Saturniinae (Silkmoths)
Tribe Attacini
Genus Samia
Species cynthia (Ailanthus Silkmoth - Hodges#7759)
Hodges Number
7759
Range
There may be some populations east of Rocky Mountains in eastern United States and southern Canada.(1)
"spotty distribution along the Atlantic coast from Connecticut to Georgia and west to northern Kentucky." BAMONA
Habitat
Found in open areas, near and in cities.(1)
Food
Many trees and shrubs, including ailanthus (tree of heaven, paradise tree), birch, ash, elm, alder, wild cherry, maple, lilac, willow, and apple.(1)
Remarks
It is a silk producing moth. It was introduced from China in the late 1800s.
There is legitimate debate as to whether there are still wild populations of this species in our area. The images here so far are from captive, hand-raised populations.
Internet References
Photos of live adult and larva at North American Moth Photographers Group.
BAMONA
Works Cited
1.National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders
Lorus and Margery Milne. 1980. Knopf.
Contributed by Ken Schneider on 2 September, 2009 - 6:40pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Chuck Entz, Vox Sciurorum, Abigail Parker
Last updated 17 September, 2011 - 6:22pm

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