Promethea Silkmoth (Callosamia promethea)

Caterpillar

Initially, they have a yellow body striped in black. As they mature, the larvae become bluish-green, with one yellow and four red horn-like projections protruding from their body. Throughout the five instar stage, the larvae go through many molts, after which they become ready for weaving a cocoon, also increasing in length then.

Pupa

The cocoon where the pupa remains encased is single-layered with a thick and elliptical appearance. The female promethea silkmoth pupae have an indentation on their fourth abdominal segment, which remains absent in their male counterparts.

The pupation phase occurs in winter, mostly on trees with the caterpillars attaching themselves to the branches using silk.

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Adult Moth

Sexual Dimorphism: Present

The male promethea silkmoth species are small than their male counterparts.

Color and Appearance

Females: When opened, they are reddish-brown or light brown with two prominent eyespots on each side of their forewings and hindwings. At the center of each wing sits two creamy-white polygons.  When closed, the color is unchanged though one eyespot and polygon is visible.

Males: When opened, it is bluish-black with cream or white patterns along the margins. They have eyespots too, but only on the forewings. When closed, the pattern and coloration are all the more the same.

The edges of the wings in both the sexes are bordered in tan. The males have a dark pigmented appearance, while the females look brighter.

Average Wingspan: 7.6 – 10.2 mm

Flight Pattern: Consistent

Season: North – May to July; South – March to May; August

Eggs

The oval-shaped white eggs have a flattened appearance with two brown rings bordering them. They appear in clusters of four to ten, mostly laid at night.