Don’t Fear the Moth

...Baby, take my hand (don't fear the moth)... it's a gateway insect!

Male Ceanothus Silk Moth by Elizabeth Roberts

Whenever I see a huge Ceanothus Silk Moth perched on a wall somewhere, I am reminded of how well I fulfilled the obligation that most any brother possesses, teasing their older sister. The most effective strategy I had for accomplishing this goal was to catch a small moth resting on the wall with my hand. Carefully concealed in my fist, I nonchalantly walked up to her and deftly released the moth under her hair by her neck and ear. Let the fireworks begin. It amused me to no end how she would jump and scream as the moth fluttered around her neck and in her hair in its attempt to escape.

Sadly, in retrospect, I deeply regret those actions. Little did I realize the trauma the poor moths were experiencing. Perhaps more importantly, I regret the lasting impact those actions had on my sister’s perception of those harmless creatures. Unknowingly, I became the contributor to her suffering from lepidopterophobia; even worse was that she passed this fear onto her daughter as well. So today, I have to admit I am responsible for 2 individuals from separate generations suffering from this fear of butterflies and moths. I am not proud of this.

It's unfortunate because they really are quite harmless to us, and often, their beauty helps lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) be gateway creatures for people to get interested in other insects. Many moths and butterflies can be quite stunning, and the brownish-red and white Ceanothus Silk Moth (Hyalophora euryalusis) is no exception. It belongs to a group of moths called Saturn moths due to the tendency of these large moths to have eyespots on their wings reminiscent of the concentric rings of Saturn. There are 15 species of Saturn moths in California, and our local Ceanothus Silk Moth with its cream colored Nike swoops on its wings is a beauty. With a furry wingspan of about 5 inches and a large, hairy striped body, it truly is an impressive specimen to hold in one’s hand.

The moths can be easily distinguished between male and female. The males have very large, broad-feathered antennae, excellent for tracking down the pheromones of the females, whose antennae are not nearly as large. But these nocturnal lepidopterans need to act quickly because after hatching from their cocoons, their lives will come to an end in only a couple weeks. During those 2 weeks in the springtime, they do not eat nor drink, instead, they spend that time “looking for love”. Once the male mates, he’s done, and with his purpose fulfilled, he will slowly pass away. The female will follow suit soon after she glues her eggs, singly or in bunches, on a Ceanothus, Manzanita, Gooseberry, Madrone, or similar plant.

After the eggs hatch, the caterpillars are voracious feeders and increase their body mass several thousand-fold over the course of a month or so. Once they get to be about 5 inches long and morph into their 5^th and final “instar” (stage), it’s time for them to build their cocoon. A gray, non-descript, elongated football-shaped structure about 3 ½ inches long attached to a small branch. After the dry fall and winter storms, when the days start warming and nights begin to shorten, the moths will emerge from their cocoons, unfold their furry wings, tune their antennae, and start the process all over again.

I wish I could find one for my sister, not to torment her with, but for her to maybe hold; after all, she loves animals and nature. I’m not holding my breath, but maybe the Ceanothus Silk moth could be a gateway insect for her?