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Cecropia Moth Caterpillars pose no threat to humans. ... Hemileuca oliviae Cockrell, caterpillars are yellow, gray or black and adorned with clusters of poisonous spines. Photo by Drees. ... Imperial moth caterpillars aren’t a poisonous type of grub but they can do a lot of damage to crops. These colorful moths have orange, red, brown, reddish-brown, white and gray on them with one black eye on each wing. The main reasons include the destruction of woodlands, parasitoids, ladybugs, and squirrels, as well as our outdoor lights since they interfere with their navigation systems. Nature usually marks its poisonous animals this way. Some species of these large caterpillars are green and yellow and others are brown and burgundy. Don't be fooled by their fuzzy exteriors. Hyalophora cecropia larvae are big and feed on a wide range of host plants. It is a member of the family Saturniidae, or giant silk moths.Females have been documented with a wingspan of five to seven inches (160 mm) or more. Dear Steve and Crew, Your impressive caterpillars are Cecropia Moth Caterpillars, and the fleshy protuberances are not barbs or stingers. Each forewing and hindwing has an ivory mark ringed in orange and black in the center of this brown area. The moth is brown near the hairy orange and white body and head. Cleaning cages Caterpillars produce “frass” – droppings – which will need to be cleaned out. Hyalophora cecropia, the cecropia moth, is North America's largest native moth. Cecropia moths are beautiful silk moths with reddish bodies and black to brown wings surrounded by bands of white, red, and tan.  The moth hung on the wood for the next 24 hours while it's wings dried and stiffened. This species is occasionally a pest of range grasses and … With a wingspan of five to seven inches (13 to 18 centimeters), the cecropia moth is the largest moth found in North America. Despite their medical significance, not much is known about Lonomia species’ life cycles and biology. The fat green ones can grow to a huge side of 5.5” (10 cm). Poisonous stings from the puss caterpillar and other types have plagued the South and parts of the Midwest. Your large individuals have probably attained maximum growth and they will soon spin a cocoon and molt into a pupa that will overwinter, with the adult Cecropia Moth emerging next spring. This native moth can cover the palm of a large hand with its generous wingspan of about 15 cm (~6 inches). Unfortunately, the number of these majestic moths is on the decline. The Hyalophora Cecropia caterpillar IS poisonous in that it will cause a predator to become ill or even die if it is eaten. 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