cecropia moth

noun

ce·​cro·​pia moth si-ˈkrō-pē-ə- 

: a large North American saturniid moth (Hyalophora cecropia) that is brown with red, white, and black markings

Illustration of cecropia moth

Examples of cecropia moth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Related Stories 400,000 Insect Species Face Extinction: Report That fly went on to attack giant silkmoths, a group that includes some of our largest and most beautiful moth species such as luna and cecropia moths. —Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023

Imagine a unicorn crossed with Jabba the Hut and shrunk to fit in the palm of your hand: the caterpillar of a cecropia moth. —Jackie Polzin, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin cecropia, from Latin, feminine of Cecropius Athenian, from Greek Kekropios, from Kekrops Cecrops, legendary king of Athens

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cecropia moth

noun

ce·​cro·​pia moth si-ˌkrō-pē-ə- 

: a red and dark brown moth that is the largest moth of North America and has a caterpillar which spins a cocoon of coarse silk