Observation date: June 11, 2011
Submitted by: tnakato
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: A giant silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia), about 4-1/2” ~ 5” long, was found in the front yard located at 618 Pine Ridge Road, Coralville in Johnson County, Iowa 52241 around 4 p.m. on 11 June 2011. The moth was found on the grass initially by our dog, Hurley -- she kept sniffing it a foot away. I went back inside quickly to grab my Fuji FinePix S9500 camera and picked this moth up from the ground using a small stick of Norwegian spruce for photographing. I then placed it on a big leaf of burdock (Gobo in Japanese) for another session of photos. Tail wings were still stuck together, so I separated them using a small twig – then, it suddenly took off very fast. I am not a biologist, but, Kelly Lotts of Montana State University verified that it is a cecropia by her e-mail. It was windy and cloudy.
Status: Resident
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: August 04, 2011
Coordinator notes: None.
