Ailanthus silkmoth
Samia cynthia (Drury, 1773)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Saturniinae
Identification: Wings are olive brown to brown with wide pinkish median bands. Each wing has a large crescent-shaped transparent spot edged with gold.
Wing Span: 4 1/8 - 5 1/2 inches (10.5 - 14 cm).
Life History: Adults fly during the day. In the evening, females lay eggs on the host plant in rows of 10-20. The eggs hatch in 2-3 weeks and the young caterpillars feed in tight groups. Older caterpillars are solitary feeders. The grayish cocoons are attached to the main petiole of a leaf, and may drop to the ground if the main petiole falls off in autumn.
Flight: One brood from June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: The introduced Chinese tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Cities and suburbs where Ailanthus grows.
Range: The Ailanthus silkmoth was introduced from China in the late 1800s in an attempt to establish a silk industry in the eastern United States. Its current distribution is spotty along the Atlantic coast from Connecticut to Georgia and west to northern Kentucky.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: TX - Presumed extinct.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 04, 2018
Submitted by: Nnjdude77
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 04, 2018
Observation date: Jul 16, 2015
Submitted by: Americanchris
Region: Bergen County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 16, 2015
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 21, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey T. Frey)
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman (Curt Lehman)
Verified date: Jun 21, 2010
Observation date: Jan 01, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robinson, Larry)
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig (Phillip Koenig)
Verified date: Mar 05, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hartford County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Essex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Arlington County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Queens County, New York, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: New Haven County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004