Illustration of cecropia moth
cecropia moth
noun
ce·cro·pia moth
si-ˈkrō-pē-ə- 
: a large North American saturniid moth (Hyalophora cecropia) that is brown with red, white, and black markings
Examples of cecropia moth in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its spring blossoms draw early-season pollinators, while its leaves host more than 200 species of caterpillars, including the larvae of the striking cecropia moth (the largest moth in North America) and the yellow and black striped eastern tiger swallowtail.
—
Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 27 July 2025
Related Stories 400,000 Insect Species Face Extinction: Report That fly went on to attack giant silkmoths, a group that includes some of our largest and most beautiful moth species such as luna and cecropia moths.
—Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
Imagine a unicorn crossed with Jabba the Hut and shrunk to fit in the palm of your hand: the caterpillar of a cecropia moth.
—Jackie Polzin, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021
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Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 27 July 2025
Related Stories 400,000 Insect Species Face Extinction: Report That fly went on to attack giant silkmoths, a group that includes some of our largest and most beautiful moth species such as luna and cecropia moths.
—Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
Imagine a unicorn crossed with Jabba the Hut and shrunk to fit in the palm of your hand: the caterpillar of a cecropia moth.
—Jackie Polzin, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Cecropia moth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cecropia%20moth. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cecropia moth
noun
ce·cro·pia moth
si-ˌkrō-pē-ə-
: a red and dark brown moth that is the largest moth of North America and has a caterpillar which spins a cocoon of coarse silk
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