Ceanothus Silk Moth, same genus as Cecropia Moth, Specimen, Wild Silk Moth, Atlas Moth

Scientific Name: Hyalophora euryalus

Common Name: Ceanothus Silkmoth


This moth has reddish-brown coloration with black and white markings. The median band and several spots are black and white. The wing margins vary from light brown to gray. The antennae are black and fuzzy. The wingspan is 89–127 mm. Adults are active from January to July, depending on their habitat. There is one generation per year.

Range: Distributed from dry mountain valleys and inland areas of British Columbia, Canada (north to Prince George along the Fraser River), to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.

Larvae feed on plants such as Ceanothus, Rhamnus californica, Prunus emarginata, Arctostaphylos, Alnus, Betula, Corylus, Ribes, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Arbutus menziesii, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Salix.

Larvae grow through five instars, and their body color changes during this process. The larval body is initially black but changes to green after multiple instars. A characteristic of the larvae is their yellow to reddish-orange scales.

The pupal cocoons have been observed to be cold-hardy. Individuals inhabiting the Okanagan Valley have been confirmed to withstand temperatures as low as -30°C.

The wing patterns of adult moths have been observed to function as a defense against predators. These patterns have evolved to resemble the eyes of vertebrates, and are thought to have a deterrent effect on predators, particularly birds. Other spots and patterns also serve a protective role by being conspicuous.

Hybridization zones between H. euryalus and H. columbia gloveri have been confirmed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This has been demonstrated through allozyme analysis.

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This moth belongs to the same genus as Cecropia moths.