{"id":33784,"date":"2021-06-21T14:52:54","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T18:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/?p=33784"},"modified":"2021-07-06T14:59:08","modified_gmt":"2021-07-06T18:59:08","slug":"supporting-royal-silkworm-moths-in-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/dnr\/2021\/06\/21\/supporting-royal-silkworm-moths-in-maryland\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting Royal Silkworm Moths in Maryland"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Female<\/a>

Luna Moth by Tim Ray (Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest)<\/p><\/div>\n

Did you know? Over 2,600 species of moths can be found in Maryland! While large, showy species like the Luna Moth are often thought about, Maryland moths are extremely diverse, and many are very small (aka micro moths). Moths serve different ecological roles such as pollinating plants and feeding other organisms like birds. In addition, some moth species like the invasive gypsy moth can be pests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like butterflies, moths undergo complete metamorphosis. Females lay eggs on plants known as host plants which the caterpillars will feed upon when they hatch. Some moth species have specific host plants while others are generalists that feed upon a variety of plants. After feeding and undergoing several molts, the moth caterpillars will make a cocoon for their pupal stage. Moth cocoons are wrapped in silk. Once metamorphosis has completed, the moth pupa may remain stationary (in diapause) until changes in light, temperature, chemicals, and\/or hormones trigger the adult to emerge. In some moth species, the adults lack mouthparts and are unable to feed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Royal Silkworm Moths (Family Saturniidae)<\/b><\/p>\n

One showy family of moths in Maryland is the Royal Silkworm Moth family (Saturniidae). Over fifteen species of Saturniids can be found in Maryland, all of which do not feed as adults.\u00a0 Help give these moths a backyard boost by planting host plants for them to enjoy in your garden.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Moth Species<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u00a0Host Plant<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Ailanthus Silkmoth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Tree-of-heaven (<\/span>Ailanthus altissima<\/span><\/i>)* – <\/span>invasive; do not plant<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Bisected Honey Locust Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Honey locust (<\/span>Gleditsia triacanthos<\/span><\/i>) and Kentucky coffee tree (<\/span>Gymnocladus dioicus<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Buck Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Various oaks (<\/span>Quercus)<\/span><\/i> and willows (<\/span>Salix<\/span><\/i> spp.)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Cecropia Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Variety including box elder (<\/span>Acer negundo<\/span><\/i>), sugar maple (<\/span>Acer saccharinum<\/span><\/i>), cherries and plums (<\/span>Prunus<\/span><\/i>), apples (<\/span>Malus<\/span><\/i>), alder and birch (Betulaceae), dogwoods (<\/span>Cornus<\/span><\/i>), and willows (<\/span>Salix<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Imperial Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Variety including pine (<\/span>Pinus<\/span><\/i>), oak (<\/span>Quercus<\/span><\/i>), box elder (<\/span>Acer negundo<\/span><\/i>), maples (Acer), sweet gum (<\/span>Liquidambar styraciflua<\/span><\/i>), and sassafras (<\/span>Sassafras albidum<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Io Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Variety including hackberry (<\/span>Celtis<\/span><\/i>), willow (Salix), redbud (<\/span>Cercis<\/span><\/i>), currant (<\/span>Ribes<\/span><\/i>), blackberry (Rubus), and pear (<\/span>Pyrus<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Luna Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Variety including persimmon (<\/span>Diospyros virginiana<\/span><\/i>), sweet gum (<\/span>Liquidambar styraciflua<\/span><\/i>), hickories (<\/span>Carya<\/span><\/i>), walnuts (<\/span>Juglans<\/span><\/i>), and sumacs (<\/span>Rhus<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Orange-tipped Oakworm Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Various oaks (Quercus<\/em>) and perhaps chinquapin (<\/span>Castanea pumila<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Pine Devil Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Pines including pitch pine (<\/span>Pinus rigida<\/span><\/i>) and eastern white pine <\/span>(P. strobus<\/span><\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Pink-striped Oakworm Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Various oaks (<\/span>Quercus<\/span><\/i> species).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Polyphemus Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Variety including oak (<\/span>Quercus<\/span><\/i>), willow (<\/span>Salix<\/span><\/i>), maple (<\/span>Acer<\/span><\/i>), and birch (<\/span>Betula<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Promethea Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Variety including spicebush (<\/span>Lindera benzoin<\/span><\/i>), sassafras <\/span>(Sassafras albidum<\/span><\/i>), tulip poplar (<\/span>Liriodendron tulipifera<\/span><\/i>), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), white ash (<\/span>Fraxinus americana<\/span><\/i>), and others.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Regal Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Hickories (<\/span>Carya<\/span><\/i>), pecan (<\/span>C. illinoensis<\/span><\/i>), butternut (<\/span>Juglans cinerea<\/span><\/i>), black walnut (<\/span>J. nigra<\/span><\/i>), sweet gum (<\/span>Liquidambar styraciflua<\/span><\/i>), persimmon (<\/span>Diospyros virginiana<\/span><\/i>), sumacs (<\/span>Rhus<\/span><\/i>),<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Rosy Maple Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Maple trees including red maple (<\/span>Acer rubrum<\/span><\/i>), sugar maple (<\/span>A. saccharum<\/span><\/i>), and silver maple (A. saccharinum); and oak trees including turkey oak (<\/span>Quercus laevis<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Spiny Oakworm Moth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Various oaks (<\/span>Quercus<\/span><\/i> species).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Tulip-tree Silkmoth<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Tulip poplar (<\/span>Liriodendron tulipifera<\/span><\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

List compiled by Ashley Stubbs using Butterflies and Moths of North America site<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"Hickory<\/a>

Hickory horned-devil is the caterpillar of the royal moth. It is one of the largest caterpillars in our region by Virginia Arboretum CC by ND 2.0<\/p><\/div>\n

In addition to planting host plants for these moths, consider the following actions to assist with supporting these moths:<\/span><\/p>\n