''Samia ricini'', the Eri silkmoth, is a species of

insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three ...

, a member of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Saturniidae Saturniidae, commonly known as saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor moths, royal moths, and gi ...

which includes the giant silk moths. This moth is a domestic polyhybrid that has been bred for centuries due to the silk it makes. The name is based on the host plant used for feeding the caterpillars, castor, ''Ricinus communis''. This moth is derived from several different species within the genus including ''

Samia cynthia ''Samia cynthia'', the ailanthus silkmoth, is a saturniid moth, used to produce silk fabric but not as domesticated as the silkworm, ''Bombyx mori''. The moth has very large wings of , with a quarter-moon shaped spot on both the upper and lower ...

'' and ''

Samia canningi ''Samia canningi'' is a moth of the family Saturniidae. It is found in south-eastern Asia and China. The wingspan is . The larvae mainly feed on ''Ailanthus altissima'', ''Prunus laurocerasus'', '' Ligustrum'' and ''Syringa'' species. Pupation ...

''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1995352 Saturniinae Moths described in 1798