Cecropia moths in area
This Cecropia Moth was seen in The Exponent parking area recently.
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A female Cecropia moth was spotted near The Exponent by two keen-eyed boys this past week. They notified the newspaper office because they were afraid that it was hurt, (it had a hole in one of its wings) and wanted to know if they could help it survive.
Once spotted, the moth was photographed and the picture was sent to Dr. Rebecca Simmons, Assistant Professor in the University of North Dakota Biology Department.
Dr. Simmons reported that it was definitely a female Cecropia moth. She assured the two young biologists that it would survive, despite the hole in her wing.
According to Simmons, the caterpillars like to eat birch, cherry and oak trees.
“I’ve actually gotten quite a few calls about these in recent weeks,” Simmons said.
“They get distracted by the lights at parking lots and gas stations and land there. They really don’t come out during the day, so you’re lucky to have come across one during the daylight hours,” she added.
The cecropia moth has a wingspan of five to six inches. The body is red with white stripes, reddish brown wings with crescent-shaped marks and eyespots on the upper tips. The edges of its wings are light tan.
The Cercropia moth does not eat. It’s only purpose it to mate, and it only lives for a few weeks.
So, if you are confronted with a monstrous looking moth, don’t be afraid. It’s probably just a Cecropia looking for a mate.