Large pale-green giant silk moth (Saturniidae) with long curved hindwing tails and a wingspan of roughly 8-11 cm. Larvae are broadleaf-tree feeders whose primary hosts include hickory and walnut (Juglandaceae), paper birch, sweetgum, and American persimmon, with regional preference shifting from birch in the north to persimmon and sweetgum in the south. Adults have vestigial mouthparts, do not feed, and live only about a week, so the moth's entire dependence on the garden is through its caterpillars and the native host trees they require.
Conservation
NatureServe global rank Secure (G5); no IUCN Red List or USFWS listing. Documented localized threats include light pollution disrupting nocturnal mating and parasitism by introduced tachinid flies; planting native host trees and reducing outdoor lighting are the standard support actions.