# Glover's Silkmoth (*Hyalophora gloveri*) Glover's Silkmoth is a beautiful moth with big, fluffy wings. They are mostly active at night and love to fly around gardens and forests looking for sweet-smelling flowers. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Glover's Silkmoth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hyalophora_gloveri_292353339.jpg&width=800) Photo: Matthew Gerke, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyalophora_gloveri_292353339.jpg) ## Appearance The Glover's Silkmoth is a large, robust moth with rich reddish-brown wings that lighten towards its fuzzy white body. Each wing features a distinctive white or translucent crescent-shaped spot outlined in black. Its feathery antennae are especially prominent on males. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Saturniidae - **Genus:** Hyalophora ## Interesting facts - Female Glover's Silkmoths wait patiently for males to find them using their powerful scent signals. - Their giant caterpillars are often bright green and covered in colorful bumps called tubercles. - These beautiful moths only live for about a week as adults, making every moment count for mating! - They can sometimes be mistaken for bats when flying at night because of their large size! ## Special abilities - **Scent Superpower:** Glover's Silkmoth males can detect female pheromones from miles away because of their large, feathery antennae that helps them find a mate. - **Growth Spurt:** Glover's Silkmoth larvae can grow up to 10 cm long because they spend their lives eating, helping them store energy for transformation. - **No-Snack Adults:** Glover's Silkmoth adults have no mouthparts and cannot eat, relying on energy stored as caterpillars, helping them focus on mating. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 100-150 mm - **Size:** 30-50 mm - **Lifespan:** 5-10 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding As caterpillars, they munch on leaves, but adult moths don't eat at all! - **Age differences:** Caterpillars are voracious leaf-eaters, but adult moths have no functional mouthparts and rely on stored energy. - **Primary Foods:** willow leaves, aspen leaves, birch leaves, chokecherry leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Quaking Aspen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quaking-aspen) (*Populus tremuloides*) — Larvae consume its leaves. - **Eats:** Sandbar Willow (*Salix exigua*) — Caterpillars feed on its foliage. - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Adult moths are nocturnal prey for bats. - **Parasitizes:** Tachinid Fly (*Lespesia archippivora*) — Lays eggs on caterpillars, eventually killing them. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Moths are gentle creatures, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Glover's Silkmoth? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Glover's Silkmoth's wingspan? 100-150 mm ### How big is Glover's Silkmoth? 30-50 mm ### How long does Glover's Silkmoth live? 5-10 days ### How fast can Glover's Silkmoth fly? 15 km/h ### What does Glover's Silkmoth eat? As caterpillars, they munch on leaves, but adult moths don't eat at all! ### Where is Glover's Silkmoth usually found? Forests ### How does Glover's Silkmoth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Andy Chambers Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/andy-chambers-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Geraldine Lucas Homestead-Fabian Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/geraldine-lucas-homestead-fabian-place-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Holzwarth Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/holzwarth-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Lehman Orchard and Aqueduct](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lehman-orchard-and-aqueduct) — Nevada, US · Historic District - [Old Colorado City](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-colorado-city) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Glover's Silkmoth](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/glovers-silkmoth) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Glover's Silkmoth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/glovers-silkmoth)