Parasitized Cecropia Moth Cocoon - Hyalophora cecropia
*I'm assuming this cocoon is parasitized. It definitely doesn't look healthy and both the pupa and cocoon had exit holes.
Parasitoids are a significant problem for cecropia moths. Some species of wasps and flies lay their eggs on young cecropia caterpillars. The eggs hatch into larvae, which then consume the internal organs and muscles of the caterpillar. The parasitoid pest releases chemicals that actually override the regulatory mechanisms of the caterpillar, and once the parasitoid has grown enough, it induces the caterpillar to pupate. Once the caterpillar pupates, the parasitoid larvae themselves pupate and kill the cecropia pupa. When they are ready to emerge as adults, they make a hole in the cocoon, and fly away.
Habitat: Spotted attached to a bush in my neighbor's yard
The Cecropia Moth is North America's largest native moth. It is a member of the Saturniidae family, or giant silk moths. Females with a wingspan of six inches or more have been documented. It is found as far west as the Rocky Mountains and north into the majority of Canadian provinces. The larvae of these moths are most commonly found on maple trees, but they have been known to feed on cherry and birch trees among many others.
