iN PHOTOS: Mammoth-sized moths grab attention in Kamloops, Okanagan
This spring residents in the Thompson-Okanagan region are finding and photographing a variety of large moths that are native to North America, and the size of some of these moths are impressive. The largest native moth on the continent is the cecropia silk moth, a member of...
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This spring residents in the Thompson-Okanagan region are finding and photographing a variety of large moths that are native to North America, and the size of some of these moths are impressive.
The largest native moth on the continent is the cecropia silk moth, a member of the giant silk moth family, with an average wingspan of six inches.
When the wings are open the forewings are brown in colour with red near the base, and the hindwings are brown and covered with crescent-shaped red spots with white centres, according to Moth Identification
https://www.mothidentification.com/cecropia-moth.htm
. The bodies are hairy with bands of red and white on the abdomens.
The polyphemus moth is one of the most common species in North America and is also very large with an average wingspan of 5 inches. It is named after the one-eyed Cyclops in Greek mythology because of the eyespots on its wings, according to Moth Identification
https://www.mothidentification.com/polyphemus-moth.htm
.
The forewings are reddish or yellowish-brown with small oval eyespots on them, and white lines with pink edges can be seen on the sides of the upper wings. The eyespots look larger on the hindwings and are circled in colourful rings.
These two species of moths can be spotted between March and July.
The one-eyed sphinx moth is a member of the family of hawk moths and have smaller wingspans of roughly 3 inches across. The forewings are a combination of pale grey and dark brown colours, and a blue eyespot with a black circle in the middle can be seen when the hindwings are open.
This moth can be spotted between May and August.
If you have photos of giant or interesting moths you want to share, send them to news@infonews.ca
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