We guessed it to be a cecropia moth caterpillar, and naturalist
Ranger Steve Mueller, of Cedar Springs, confirmed it is indeed a
cecropia moth larva. “If it was crawling about, it is probably
looking for a place to spin a cocoon,” said Steve. “It will over
winter and emerge in May if kept outside. If the cocoon is kept
indoors it will emerge as an adult early and will not find a
mate for reproduction.” Ranger Steve is the state coordinator
for Michigan and Utah for the national database of Butterflies
and Moths of North America (BAMONA), a citizen science website.
He said it was a good year for the silk moths, and he received
several photos of adult moths that people submitted to document
the species for their county. “When people submit a butterfly or
moth record, I verify the identification and then it is posted
on the national database,” he explained. Anyone can take photos
and submit them to BAMONA, no species knowledge necessary. To
learn more, or to get involved, visit
www.butterfliesandmoths.org.