Bug FAQPecan Carpenterworm Moth
Cossula magnifica · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Cossidae
Source: Wikipedia
Adults have a wingspan of about 3 to 4.5 centimeters. Moths are on the wing from early spring through early summer, depending on where they live. The caterpillars feed on pecan, persimmon, and oak trees.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Cossula magnifica, known as the pecan carpenterworm moth, belongs to the family Cossidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 32 to 45 millimeters.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on hickory (Carya) species, especially pecan, as well as persimmon (Diospyros) and oak (Quercus) species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from March to June, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans March through June depending on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is the southeastern United States, covering North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 11 of 51 states and DC. Most records: North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult pecan carpenterworm moths active?
Adults are on the wing from March to June, with timing depending on the location.
Source: Wikipedia
What trees do the larvae feed on?
The caterpillars eat pecan and other hickory species, as well as persimmon and oak trees.
Source: Wikipedia
How large is the pecan carpenterworm moth?
Its wingspan measures between 32 and 45 millimeters.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Cossidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossula_magnifica
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.