When Shafer farmer Dan Sheild was pruning his stone-fruit trees last fall, he was observant enough to distinguish a cocoon from what could have been easily dismissed as dried leaf. He kept it ...

A mention of silk moths may conjure up images of China where, for millennia, fibers teased from cocoons of domesticated silk moths (Bombyx mori) have been used to manufacture silk, and the producers, ...

The natural world is home to countless fascinating insects, but few are as striking as the Cecropia moth. With its plush, velvety body, bold patterns, and impressive wingspan, this giant silk moth ...

June means warm nights, summer solstice, fireflies … and the seldom-seen giant silk moths. Giant silk moths are members of the family Saturniidae and include some of the most spectacular native large ...

When you think of moths, do you see holes in your clothes, pests in the pantry, or pesky insects drawn to night lights spoiling your social BBQ? Or worse, do you have an irrational fear of moths?

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Late fall and early winter are the best times of year to spot giant silk moth cocoons in New England. Perhaps you’ve seen these creatures in the summer ...