Ceanothus silkmoth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ceanothus silkmoth |
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The ceanothus silkmoth, also known by its scientific name Hyalophora euryalus, is a beautiful type of moth. It belongs to a family of large moths called Saturniidae. These moths can be found in the dry valleys and inner parts of British Columbia, Canada. Their home range stretches south all the way to Baja California in Mexico. A scientist named Jean Baptiste Boisduval first described this species in 1855.
About the Ceanothus Silkmoth
The ceanothus silkmoth is quite large. Its wingspan, which is the distance from one wingtip to the other, can be between 89 and 127 millimeters. That's about the length of a typical smartphone!
Adult moths usually fly for a short time each year. Depending on where they live, you might see them from January to July. These moths have one generation per year. This means that the eggs laid by the adults will grow into larvae, then pupae, and finally become new adults all within one year.
What They Eat
The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, need to eat a lot to grow. They munch on leaves from many different plants. Some of their favorite foods include:
- Ceanothus
- Rhamnus californica (California buckthorn)
- Prunus emarginata (Bitter cherry)
- Arctostaphylos (Manzanita)
- Alnus
- Betula
- Corylus (Hazel)
- Ribes (Currant or gooseberry)
- Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Arbutus menziesii
- Salix
These plants provide all the energy the caterpillars need to transform into beautiful moths.
