Family Hepialidae (Ghost Moths)

The Hepialidae are members of the Superfamily Hepialoidea. There are more than 600 named species found worldwide, with high diversity in Australia and Africa, and about 20 species in America north of Mexico. Adults are large to very large moths (wingspan 2-25 cm) and include some of the largest Lepidoptera in the world. Adults are short-lived, and species found in North America are typically yellowish, brownish, or grayish. Females carry enormous numbers of eggs. Males form groups that fly together in swarms at dusk as a courtship ritual. Caterpillars are elongate and cylindrical, and live in tunnels in the soil or bore into stems of living trees and shrubs. The complete life cycle takes 1-2 years.