Triangle Land Conservancy
National Moth Week continues with another showstopper: the regal moth (Citheronia regalis)! Bright orangey-red when not

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National Moth Week continues with another showstopper: the regal moth (Citheronia regalis)!

Bright orangey-red when not under UV lights, regal moths (Citheronia regalis) are Saturniid cousins of luna and tuliptree silk moths that can reach 6" wingspans. People may be more familiar with their very impressive, and very spiky caterpillar stage, known as "Hickory horned devils". As their name implies, the caterpillars feed on hickories, walnuts, sumacs and other local hardwood trees. Unlike their cousins, regal moths pupate in the ground, and only have one emergence every year around the time when the humidity arrives. #mothweek #regalmoths #trianglelandconservancy #speciesspotlight
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