Hyalophora cecropia

This is another commissioned piece of a giant silk moth, Hyalophora cecropia. It was interesting reading up on the moth family Satuniidae, of which one my favorite moths belongs, Actias luna. One characteristic of the Saturniids is that the adult moths do not have mouths, and so do not eat. They live only to breed, and rarely beyond a week. Painting the intricate patterning in the wings of this beauty was more difficult than I anticipated, but was a welcome little challenge.