Non-feeding-adult

Guides

Actias
Moon Moths, Asian-American Moon Moths
Actias is a genus of Saturniid moths commonly known as moon moths, distributed across Asia and the Americas. The genus is distinguished by elongated hindwing tails and includes well-known species such as the Luna moth (A. luna) of North America and the Spanish moon moth (A. isabellae) of Europe. Adult moths lack functional mouthparts, limiting their lifespan to several days to one week after emergence. Caterpillars feed on leaves of various woody plants including sweetgum, pine, hickory, walnut, and birch.
Saturniidae moon-moth tailed-hindwings nocturnal non-feeding-adult light-pollution forest-moth
Actias luna
Luna Moth, North American Luna Moon Moth
Actias luna, the Luna moth, is a large, lime-green saturniid moth native to North America, recognized as one of the continent's most visually striking insects. Adults possess a wingspan reaching up to 114 mm (4.5 inches), with distinctive elongated hindwing tails and prominent eyespots that may confuse predators. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: males have highly feathery antennae for detecting female pheromones, while females have slender antennae and larger abdomens. Larvae feed on a variety of broadleaf trees including sweetgum, hickory, walnut, birch, and sumac. The moth is univoltine in northern portions of its range, with larvae overwintering in leaf-litter-camouflaged cocoons before emerging as adults in spring; southern populations may produce two or three broods annually.
Saturniidae giant-silk-moth green-moth eyesopts univoltine light-pollution non-feeding-adult folivorous-larva Nearctic forest-insect educational-insect folklore-insect
Citheronia sepulcralis
pine-devil moth
Citheronia sepulcralis, commonly known as the pine-devil moth, is a giant silk moth in the family Saturniidae. Adults are blackish-brown in color and lack functional mouthparts. The species occurs across the eastern and southeastern United States, with larvae feeding exclusively on pine species. Multiple broods occur in southern regions, while northern populations are univoltine.
Saturniidae Ceratocampinae giant-silk-moth pine Nearctic univoltine multivoltine non-feeding-adult
Cuterebra abdominalis
rabbit bot fly
Cuterebra abdominalis is a species of New World skin bot fly in the family Oestridae. It is a parasite of lagomorphs (rabbits and hares), with larvae developing subcutaneously in host tissues. Adults are short-lived, lack functional mouthparts, and do not feed. The species exhibits Batesian mimicry, resembling bumble bees in appearance. It is one of approximately 34 recognized North American species in the genus Cuterebra, with seven species specializing on rabbit hosts.
parasite mimicry bot-fly lagomorph rabbit Oestridae Cuterebrinae myiasis warble Batesian-mimicry short-lived-adult non-feeding-adult soil-pupation spring-emergence
Cuterebra buccata
rabbit bot fly
Cuterebra buccata is a New World bot fly in the family Oestridae, commonly known as the rabbit bot fly. Adults are large, bumble bee-sized flies that lack functional mouthparts and do not feed. The species is host-specific to lagomorphs, particularly cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Larvae develop subcutaneously in warbles, feeding on host fluids rather than tissue. Adults are rarely encountered in the field and have short lifespans focused on reproduction.
bot-fly myiasis parasite lagomorph rabbit Oestridae Cuterebrinae bumble-bee-mimicry warble subcutaneous-parasite host-specific non-feeding-adult puparium Cuterebra Sylvilagus cottontail-rabbit New-World North-America Virginia Missouri Vermont spring-emergence late-summer-prevalence rarely-encountered short-lived-adult evolutionary-coevolution benign-parasitism soil-pupation larval-migration subcutaneous-development Diptera Insecta entomology medical-entomology veterinary-entomology wildlife-disease parasitology host-parasite-interaction cuterebrid rabbit-parasite lagomorph-parasite bot warble-fly gadfly Oestrus-buccata Fabricius-1775 Cuterebra-buccata-(Fabricius,-1775)
Fulgoraecia exigua
Planthopper Parasite Moth
Fulgoraecia exigua is a small moth in the family Epipyropidae, commonly known as the planthopper parasite moth. The species is an obligate ectoparasite of planthoppers in the family Issidae, with larvae attaching to and feeding on their hosts. Adults are non-feeding with vestigial mouthparts and short adult lifespans. First described by H. Edwards in 1882, it has been recorded across much of the eastern and central United States, with a first Canadian record documented from southern Ontario in 2021.
ectoparasite parasitoid planthopper-parasite non-feeding-adult prairie-habitat
Gasterophilinae
stomach bot flies
Gasterophilinae is a subfamily of Oestridae containing large, parasitic flies whose larvae develop in the digestive tracts of herbivorous mammals. The group includes three genera with distinct host specializations: Gasterophilus (equids including horses, zebras, and donkeys), Gyrostigma (rhinoceroses), and Cobboldia (elephants). Adults are short-lived, non-feeding, and exhibit specialized oviposition behaviors. Larvae are obligate parasites that complete development in the host alimentary tract, causing veterinary significance. The subfamily has achieved near-cosmopolitan distribution through association with domestic horses.
parasite veterinary-pest equid-parasite digestive-tract-parasite bot-fly non-feeding-adult obligate-parasite
Hemileuca eglanterina
Sheep Moth, Common Sheep Moth
Hemileuca eglanterina, commonly known as the sheep moth or common sheep moth, is a day-flying saturniid moth native to western North America. The species exhibits remarkable geographic variation in coloration, ranging from nearly black to pink/yellow to the typical orange with black markings. Adults are short-lived and lack functional mouthparts, relying entirely on fat reserves accumulated during the larval stage. The species has been documented in coevolutionary dynamics with Argiope spiders, which appear to lure male moths using chemical mimicry of female moth sex pheromones.
day-flying-moth saturniid coevolution pheromone-communication western-North-America variable-coloration predator-prey-interaction non-feeding-adult plant-feeding-larva
Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis
Mount Shasta Sheep Moth
Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis is a subspecies of sheep moth in the family Saturniidae, endemic to the Mount Shasta region of northern California. As a member of the Hemileuca genus, it is a day-flying moth with reduced mouthparts that does not feed as an adult. The subspecies exhibits the characteristic orange and black coloration typical of H. eglanterina, though with geographic variation associated with its isolated mountain habitat. Like other buck moths, its larvae possess urticating spines that can deliver painful stings.
Saturniidae sheep-moth buck-moth day-flying-moth stinging-caterpillar endemic California Mount-Shasta montane Lepidoptera insect moth urticating-spines pheromone-communication short-lived-adult non-feeding-adult
Hyalophora
Giant Silk Moths, Silkmoths
Hyalophora is a genus of giant silk moths in the family Saturniidae, containing some of the largest and most visually striking moths in North America. The genus includes the cecropia moth (H. cecropia), North America's largest native moth, along with several other notable species such as the Columbia silkmoth and Glover's silkmoth. Adults are characterized by their large size, broad wings with distinctive eyespot patterns, and reduced mouthparts—they do not feed. Larvae are equally impressive, with bright coloration and prominent tubercles or spines. The genus was established by James Duncan and John O. Westwood in 1841.
Saturniidae giant-silk-moth cecropia North-America forest nocturnal non-feeding-adult univoltine introduced-parasitoid-impact research-model-organism
Hyalophora euryalus
Ceanothus silkmoth, Ceanothus silk moth
Hyalophora euryalus, the ceanothus silkmoth, is a large saturniid moth native to western North America. Adults lack functional mouthparts and do not feed, living solely to reproduce. The species is notable for its broad host plant range spanning multiple plant families. Larvae possess urticating hairs and scoli that can cause skin irritation. The moth has a single generation per year, with adults active from January through July depending on latitude and elevation.
saturniid giant-silk-moth western-North-America Ceanothus urticating-hairs univoltine nocturnal light-attracted non-feeding-adult
Lanugo cestus
Lanugo cestus is a species of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. It is native to the Neotropical region and exhibits the large size and reduced mouthparts characteristic of many saturniid moths. Adults are primarily nocturnal and do not feed. The species has received limited scientific study, and many aspects of its biology remain undocumented.
Saturniidae giant-silkmoth Neotropical nocturnal non-feeding-adult
Megathymus yuccae
Yucca Giant-skipper
Megathymus yuccae is a large, robust-bodied butterfly in the family Hesperiidae, subfamily Megathyminae. It is an early-season species found across the southern United States in habitats supporting yucca plants, which serve as exclusive larval hosts. Adults are non-feeding, though males engage in mud-puddling behavior. The species is considered rare throughout its range.
skipper Yucca-associated early-season non-feeding-adult mud-puddling southern-US
Paonias astylus
Huckleberry Sphinx
Paonias astylus is a sphinx moth native to eastern North America, commonly known as the huckleberry sphinx. The species exhibits bivoltine flight periods in the southern portion of its range and univoltine patterns in the north. Adults have reduced mouthparts and do not feed; larvae specialize on woody plants in several families including Ericaceae and Salicaceae.
moth sphingid sphinx-moth blueberry eastern-North-America nocturnal non-feeding-adult
Priacma serrata
Priacma bleach beetle
Priacma serrata is the sole extant species in the genus Priacma, a relict lineage of reticulated beetles in the family Cupedidae. Males are strongly attracted to the odor of bleach and other chlorine-based compounds, a unique behavioral trait that facilitates collection and study. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with females substantially larger than males and rarely encountered. Adult males possess non-functional digestive tracts and do not feed. Populations display episodic mass emergence events rather than continuous adult activity.
Cupedidae Archostemata relict-species sexual-dimorphism bleach-attraction chlorine-response coniferous-forest western-North-America non-feeding-adult episodic-emergence phylogenetic-relict X-ray-tomography head-morphology gregarious-flight
Rothschildia
Rothschildia is a genus of giant silkmoths in the family Saturniidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1896. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Argentina. Adults are characterized by large size, reduced or vestigial mouthparts, and often striking wing patterns including transparent "windows" devoid of scales. Several species have documented cultural significance for indigenous peoples, particularly the use of cocoons in ceremonial regalia.
giant-silkmoth Saturniidae neotropical cultural-entomology indigenous-use cocoon-harvest transparent-wing-windows non-feeding-adult
Rothschildia lebeau
Lebeau's Silk Moth, Forbes Moth
Rothschildia lebeau is a giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, distributed from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through eastern Mexico to Brazil. Adults are short-lived and do not feed, relying on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species exhibits a life history tradeoff between larval survival and adult body size based on host plant quality, with larger males showing higher mating success.
giant-silkmoth Saturniidae host-plant-tradeoff sexual-selection tropical-dry-forest Barro-Colorado-Island pheromone-communication non-feeding-adult complete-metamorphosis cultural-significance indigenous-use cocoon-harvesting mating-success body-size-dimorphism seasonal-variation microbial-associations protistan-diversity caterpillar-microbiome herbivore forest-ecology Neotropical Mexico Central-America South-America Panama Costa-Rica Brazil Texas Rio-Grande-Valley exhibit-species butterfly-house education conservation light-pollution suburban-sprawl introduced-parasites rearing cottage-industry vestigial-mouthparts fat-reserves short-lived-adult female-sedentary-behavior male-dispersal oviposition-site-selection fitness-consequences life-history-evolution quantitative-genetic-variation wet-season-phenology developmental-plasticity survival-size-tradeoff herbivore-performance plant-animal-interactions microbial-observatory molecular-characterization eukaryotic-microbiome saturniid-caterpillar Lepidoptera Bombycoidea Rothschildia Guérin-Méneville-1868 Attacus-lebeau Lebeau's-Silk-Moth Forbes-Moth Rothschildia-lebeau-forbesi windows transparent-wing-patches scale-less-wing-areas antennae sexual-dimorphism mate-choice sperm-competition reproductive-success larval-performance caterpillar-growth pupal-development adult-emergence longevity predation bat-predation nocturnal crepuscular moth silkmoth silkworm giant-moth forest-moth tropical-moth Neotropical-fauna biodiversity insect-collection museum-specimen Bohart-Museum American-Museum-of-Natural-History entomology lepidopterology systematics taxonomy natural-history field-study observational-study experimental-ecology evolutionary-ecology behavioral-ecology population-biology community-ecology ecosystem-function food-web trophic-interaction herbivory folivory tree-insect-interaction phenology climate-effects seasonality environmental-variation habitat-heterogeneity host-race ecotype local-adaptation phenotypic-plasticity genetic-variation quantitative-trait trade-off allocation reproductive-allocation parental-investment offspring-size offspring-number optimal-clutch-size mate-competition intrasexual-selection intersexual-selection ornament signal chemical-communication olfaction sensory-ecology foraging movement-ecology dispersal migration home-range activity-pattern diel-cycle circadian-rhythm photoperiod temperature humidity rainfall precipitation dry-season wet-season tropical-seasonality El-Niño climate-change global-warming habitat-disturbance forest-fragmentation deforestation agricultural-expansion urbanization conservation-biology threatened-species common-species population-decline extinction-risk protected-area national-park biological-reserve research-station Smithsonian-Tropical-Research-Institute Barro-Colorado-Island-Nature-Monument Gatun-Lake Panama-Canal Isthmus-of-Panama Central-American-isthmus land-bridge biogeography vicariance dispersal-limitation 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Rothschildia lebeau forbesi
Forbes' Silk Moth, Forbes Moth
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi, commonly known as Forbes' Silk Moth, is a subspecies of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. It ranges from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through eastern Mexico to Brazil. Adults are frequently mistaken for the Atlas Moth due to distinctive transparent "windows" in their wings that lack scales. Like other giant silkmoths, adults do not feed and live only a few days, surviving on fat reserves accumulated during the larval stage.
Saturniidae giant-silkmoth Rio-Grande-Valley Mexico Brazil transparent-wing-windows non-feeding-adult short-lived cultural-use indigenous-peoples ceremonial-cocoons
Smerinthinae
Eyed hawkmoths
Smerinthinae is a subfamily of hawkmoths (Sphingidae) characterized by adults with reduced, non-functional mouthparts. Adults do not feed and rely entirely on larval energy reserves. The subfamily includes three tribes: Ambulycini, Smerinthini, and Sphingulini. Many species display prominent eyespot patterns on the hindwings used in defensive displays.
Sphingidae hawkmoth eyed-hawkmoth non-feeding-adult eyespot-display