Iowa doesn’t have many large insects, but one particular silkworm moth is the largest you can find in the state and across the continent, the cecropia moth. Since they are not often seen, they are a real eye-catcher with their bright colors and their enormous wingspan.
They fly at night, so you can see them fluttering near a street lamp, or you can find it completely quiet during the day, where they stop in the morning and stay there until late at night.
They have a wingspan of up to seven inches and have reddish-brown colors and a white “eye” near the center.
The cecropia caterpillar eats the leaves of many trees and shrubs, including ash, birch, box, elm, maple, poplar, cherry, plum, willow, apple, and lilac. As soon as it emerges from its cocoon as a moth, it no longer eats. Its only purpose is mating. It only lives a few weeks when it becomes a moth, mates, and then dies.
You can buy cecropia caterpillars and have them shipped to Iowa. A set of 10 caterpillars is $ 70 from the Shady Oak Butterfly Farm in Florida.
The Cecropia moth is found east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. They will hatch from their cocoons in late May or June.
The moth is named after King Cecrops of Athens in named Greek mythology. It was believed that he was the one who taught the citizens of Athens the secrets of marriage, reading, writing, and ceremonial burial.
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Stacker has compiled a list of the best places to live in Iowa using data from Niche. Niche rates residential locations based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs and localities were taken into account. Offers and pictures come from realtor.com.
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