SHAGBARK HICKORY (Carya ovata)
The nuts of Shagbark Hickory are edible and a source of rich food for some mammals and woodpeckers. More than 200 species of lepidoptera (moths & butterflies) have been recorded feeding on the leaves and in Ontario, the Luna Moth is arguably the most spectacular.’
The lime-green caterpillars grow up to 6.5 cm. before over wintering in a cocoon and emerging as an apple green adult with a wingspan of up to 10.5 cm. Another lepidoptera found is the Hickory Hairstreak butterfly – not nearly as spectacular as the Luna but still an important part of our biodiversity.
The Luna Moth is undeniably beautiful and is one of the largest moths in North America. But its magnificence is short-lived – after emerging from its cocoon, the Luna Moth only survives about one week and spends that time focusing on mating and reproducing.
