Giant Silkmoth Cocoon Watch is on!

[Kent McFarland]

As November begins, we enter stick season, surrounded by the bare twigs of deciduous trees and shrubs. However, the lack of leaves reveals other jewels, if you know where to look for them—giant silk moth cocoons. Giant silk moths (Saturniidae) are massive by moth standards, including the well-known Luna Moth (Actias luna). In Vermont, five species in this group have been recorded: Luna Moth, Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Promethea Moth (Callosamia promethea), and Columbia Moth (Hyalophora columbia). These species overwinter as pupa, wrapped snugly in their silken cocoons. This November, the Vermont Atlas of Life is asking you all to join our Cocoon Watch on iNaturalist and help us find andphotographing giant silk moth cocoons. Learn more about the project at https://val.vtecostudies.org/missions/cocoon-watch/ and join us on iNaturalist at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vermont-giant-silk-moth-cocoon-watch

Thanks,

Kent

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Kent McFarland (he/him)
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055
802.649.1431 x201
Twitter: @kpmcfarland  iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/people/317