Promethea silkmoth
Callosamia promethea
Moth
The Promethea silkmoth is a sexually dimorphic native silk moth of eastern deciduous woods. Caterpillars use a range of woody host plants including spicebush, sassafras, tulip tree, cherries, magnolias, sweetgum, and ash, then overwinter in a leaf-wrapped cocoon attached to the host twig. Adults do not feed; planting and keeping host trees and shrubs is the whole support plan.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
4 essential relationships / 0 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 4
Forage/pollination links: 0
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 1
Black cherry
Essential / Larval host plants
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center names Promethea moth among black cherry's larval-host moths; BAMONA also lists cherry (Prunus) among Promethea host trees.
Northern spicebush
Essential / Larval host plants
Promethea silkmoth larvae are documented on spicebush and other eastern woody hosts; leaving leaf litter and overwintering cocoons under shrub edges helps complete the life cycle.
Sassafras
Essential / Larval host plants
The Promethea silkmoth record documents sassafras among its eastern woody larval hosts; sassafras is already a Lauraceae host anchor in the catalog.
Tulip tree (yellow poplar)
Essential / Larval host plants
The Promethea silkmoth record documents tulip tree among its woody larval hosts; Liriodendron tulipifera is the catalog tulip-tree anchor.
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 4
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center names Promethea moth among black cherry's larval-host moths; BAMONA also lists cherry (Prunus) among Promethea host trees.
Promethea silkmoth larvae are documented on spicebush and other eastern woody hosts; leaving leaf litter and overwintering cocoons under shrub edges helps complete the life cycle.
The Promethea silkmoth record documents sassafras among its eastern woody larval hosts; sassafras is already a Lauraceae host anchor in the catalog.
The Promethea silkmoth record documents tulip tree among its woody larval hosts; Liriodendron tulipifera is the catalog tulip-tree anchor.
Range
Eastern North America from southern Canada through the eastern United States, strongest in deciduous woodland and woodland-edge landscapes.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/callosamia-promethea
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
BAMONA: Promethea Silkmoth Callosamia promethea
Species profile used for range, adult/lifecycle context, and woody larval host list.
BugGuide: Callosamia promethea
Identification, seasonal, and host-plant cross-check for Promethea silkmoth.
GBIF: Callosamia promethea
GBIF returns an exact accepted species match for Callosamia promethea at key 1866341.
iNaturalist: Callosamia promethea
iNaturalist taxon 81580 is the species Callosamia promethea, the promethea silkmoth.