Pacifica Riptide: Lepidopterist Confirms: It's a Ceanothus Silk Moth

« Left Coast Annual Awards | Main | Mystery Solved: Light at the End of the Tunnel »

May 17, 2012

Lepidopterist Confirms: It's a Ceanothus Silk Moth

Clue: John Maybury shot Mothra with his Canon SureShot on Rosita Road. Mark Stechbart thought it was a cecropia, but according to Wikipedia, that moth appears no farther west than the Rocky Mountains. Ian Butler says, "That is a Ceanothus Silk Moth, or Hyalophora euryalus. They are sometimes seen in Linda Mar this time of year. I found a live one with broken wing two years ago, and kept it comfortable until it passed away. Now it is tucked away in my closet, and taken out from time to time for show and tell. We are fortunate to have them in our midst!" San Francisco State University biologist and moth expert John R. Blair says, "Ian Butler is correct."

Posted on May 17, 2012 at 08:53 AM in CRITTERS & WILDLIFE | Permalink

Comments

You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

That is a Ceanothus Silk Moth, or Hyalophora euryalus. They are sometimes seen in Linda Mar this time of year. I found a live one with broken wing two years ago, and kept it comfortable until it passed away. Now it is tucked away in my closet, and taken out from time to time for show and tell. We are fortunate to have them in our midst!

Posted by: ian butler | May 17, 2012 at 07:58 AM

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Posted by: |

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type:

Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.