Saturnid Moths (Saturniidae)
Very large, hairy moths Large, feather-like antennae
Two species occur in our area:
Cecropia Moth (Samia cecropia): It is the largest moth in our area, having varying colors of brown and yellow.
Luna Moth (Tropaea luna): New England’s most beautiful moth, the Luna is pale green, with a brown leading edge on the forewing and a long tail-like extension from the hind wing.
Tiger Moths (Arctiinae)
Yellowish-brown body Three rows of black spots on body
The larvae of these moths are the well-known “Woolly Bear” caterpillars that are covered with a dense coat of rusty-red and black hairs. They are not beneficial. Two common examples are:
Salt-marsh Caterpillar (Estigmene acrea): This caterpillar is covered with rose-colored hair. It feeds on practically every type of leaf in the fall.
Webworm (Hyphantria cunea): It covers the ground for several feet with its silky web. In large numbers, Webworms can denude a tree in short order. Periodic outbreaks of these “Soldier Worms” are common at the beach.