Silk Moths and Sphinx Moths, Superfamily Bombycoidea, are some of our largest local species and, in the case of Sphinx Moths, some of our fastest as well. They are related to Superfamily Lasiocampidae, the Tent Caterpillars.
Other Lepidoptera groups include Tiger and Tussock Moths, Geometer Moths and their inchworms, Cutworms and Dart Moths, Snout Moths and other micromoths, Clearwing Moths, Plume Moths, Scoopwing Moths and Butterflies.
Silk Moths and Sphinx Moths (superfamily Bombycoidea)
Giant Silk Moths (family Saturniidae)
These are among the largest moths. They produce a silken cocoon, and in China several species are used for silk production.
Sphinx and Hawk Moths (family Sphingidae)
Sphinx moths and hawkmoths beat their wings incredibly fast as the sip nectar from flowers, and as a result are sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds. They are some of the fastest flying insects, capable of flying nearly 12 miles/hour.
Tent Caterpillars and relatives (superfamily Lasiocampoidea)
Tent caterpillars are social insects that live within a large webbed “tent”, which helps them to regulate their temperature and stay warm enough to digest young leaves in cool weather. Only those of the Malacosoma genus build tents.
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