6 August 2016
Beautiful moths come in all sizes.
The royal walnut or regal moth (Citheronia regalis) is the largest moth in the western hemisphere north of Mexico. With a wing span of 3.75 to 6+ inches (females are largest), it lives in deciduous forests from New Jersey to eastern Kansas and east Texas to Florida.
Citheronia regalis is always big but not always beautiful. As a caterpillar it’s so scary-looking that it’s called a hickory horned devil. Here’s the final instar on a child’s hand.
True to its name the caterpillar feeds on walnuts, hickories and a lot of other trees. Since their only job is to procreate the adults never eat. They live only a week.
Now’s a good time to find this big and beautiful moth in southwestern Pennsylvania.
(photo by Don Weiss)
A few years ago I saw a hickory horned devil on the sidewalk on Oakland Square. Amazing, gorgeous in a scary sort of way. Didn’t have the nerve to pick it up, looked it up online. Memorable!
Hi Kate, Is there a way to contact you? I have a couple of pictures of a moth my daughter found in our back yard. Not one you’ve featured so far. It is a little unusual we think. Scott
Scott G, I will contact you, but I don’t hold out any hope that I can identify your moth. I know only about 5 of them. The moths I bog about are photos from friends who know what they’re looking at. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this, Kate! They are such cool moths and this was the second one I came across in a two week period. They always take your breath away when you see them!
I have never seen a moth like this.
I want make a poster that would feature this picture.
The title of the poster is:
“All the days of my life I shall marvel at the work of your Hands.”
The photo will include and give credit to your work.
I would be honored and grateful.
I will put you in touch with the photographer via email.