Subject: What kind of moth is this?
Location: Rowan County, North Carolina
July 24, 2017 5:55 pm
Hi Bugman,
I’m in Rowan Co., N.C. and wondering what kind of moth this is my husband took a picture of on the hood of our car. It’s about as big as a large palm of the hand. Pretty markings!
Signature: Thanks! Monica in N.C.
Dear Monica,
This is one of the male Giant Silkmoths in the genus Callosamia, and there are three similar looking species that are all found in North Carolina. Based on BugGuide images, we believe this is a male Sweetbay Silkmoth, but we would not rule out that it might be a male Tulip-Tree Silkmoth which is also pictured on BugGuide.