Cecropia moth

[ si-kroh-pee-uh ]

noun(sometimes lowercase)
  1. a large North American silkworm moth, Hyalophora cecropia, the larvae of which feed on the foliage of forest and other trees.

Origin of Cecropia moth

1
1865–70, Americanism;<New Latin Cecropia name of the genus, Latin: feminine of Cecropius pertaining to Cecrops, legendary ruler of Attica
  • Also called Ce·cro·pi·a.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Cecropia moth in a sentence

  • A perfect specimen of a Cecropia moth, for a perfect specimen of a luna or a death's-head moth.

  • "We must be thinking about supper, mother," said Elnora, while she set the wings of a Cecropia with much care.

    A Girl Of The Limberlost | Gene Stratton Porter
  • Have you ever watched a Cecropia moth when it crawls out of its dull gray prison of chrysalis?

    Jewel Weed | Alice Ames Winter
  • Miss Cecropia felt quite agitated when she heard this, and wondered if she looked all right.

    Among the Forest People | Clara Dillingham Pierson
  • She had not been there so very long before she noticed another Cecropia moth near her, clinging to the under side of a leaf.

    Among the Forest People | Clara Dillingham Pierson

British Dictionary definitions for cecropia moth

cecropia moth

/ (sɪˈkrəʊpɪə) /


noun
  1. a large North American saturniid moth, Hyalophora (or Samia) cecropia, with brightly coloured wings and feathery antennae

Origin of cecropia moth

1
C19: New Latin, from Latin Cecropius belonging to Cecrops

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012