Sweetbay silkmoth
| Callosamia securifera | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Saturniidae |
| Tribe: | Attacini |
| Genus: | Callosamia |
| Species: | C. securifera |
| Binomial name | |
| Callosamia securifera (Maassen, 1873) | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Sweetbay Silkmoth (Callosamia securifera) is a saturniid in the genus Callosamia. It was named after the host tree, Magnolia virginiana.
Males have dark maroonish wings, while the females have brownish pinkish wings. The southern phases are more orange-yellow colored, brighter, and more pale. All phases have a "7" mark on their wings with the eye spots, lavender patches, and buff-patterned borders.
These moths are diurnal and their mating period is in the afternoon. Their lifespan is about two weeks, long enough to mate and lay eggs. Like other moths in the genus, Callosamia, the caterpillar spins a hanging cocoon that has leaves attached to it.
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