Will you be in northern New York this summer? If you see any giant moths, they might be one of the target species for Project Silkmoth. Giant silk moths are native species possibly on the decline in the northeastern U.S. because of habitat destruction and the introduction of a parasitic fly used to control gypsy moths.
Project Silkmoth seeks to document sightings of these moths as baseline data for monitoring their distribution. The project website has an online form for submitting sightings and more information about where and how to look for these beautiful moths. Photos are accepted, but more important is the sighting date, precise location, and presence of nearby host trees. The adults are on the wing from late May through mid-July. The rest of the summer their caterpillars are munching leaves on common tree species until they make cocoons in early fall.
If you live or work near a nature center in northern New York and would like to drop off some brochures about Project Silkmoth, contact Dr. Mihuc.
I am an organismal biologist specializing in aquatic and terrestrial insects and birds. I serve as one of the Program Directors for the School of Natural Resource Management and Ecology. I am the Director of Project Silkmoth, a citizen science project to document sightings of Giant Silkmoths in northern New York State.