Jason was busy pruning trees over the Memorial Day weekend and we made many trips to the "burn pile" with assorted limbs and branches. I got involved because I asked his help on pruning back a large, old Viburnum bush that bloomed spectacularly earlier in the spring. Anyway, I was making my last trip to the burn pile when I saw the most amazing sight. I nearly missed it, but I did a double take and saw two of what are the largest moths in North America - Cecropia Moths.

The pair were perched on what looked like tall grass blades, but it could have been an old twig. They were mating and the largest of the two had a wingspan of 6-7". They were magnificent - I have never seen anything like them before. A great site that talks about these striking moths is from the University of Kentucky.

The next morning, both moths were gone. I am going to be on the look-out for caterpillars this summer, now that I know what to look for. What a late-spring treat it was to see such an intriguing insect!