Giant Silkmoths in Northeast Forests

摘要

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see the word, "moth"? For many people, it's that little brown insect flying around the porch light. When swatted, it erupts in a cloud of brown scales. For people with forested property, maybe "moth"brings to mind those big-name defoliators like forest tent caterpillar or the infamous gypsy moth. During outbreaks, their caterpillars can strip a tree of their leaves in a matter of days. In their adult form (the winged stage that most people think of when the term "moth" is used) many are also little and brown, but not all moths are so drab or destructive.