Silk case spun by some moth caterpillars

Latest answer — September 07, 2026

38 Across

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Clue explained

A COCOON is the protective silk case spun by some moth caterpillars before metamorphosis. It is a noun naming the case, not the caterpillar inside it.

Clue type:
Definition
A moth caterpillar’s silk cocoon attached to a branch

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Monday, September 07, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Facing the pitcher
  2. 6Cats and dogs, e.g.
  3. 10Part of a goblet
  4. 14"Quiet!"
  5. 15"Don't stress about me"
  6. 16"Fair point"
  7. 17Old-fashioned parade material
  8. 19Bring in
  9. 20Tattoos, casually
  10. 21Service line?
  11. 23Bear's foot
  12. 24"See ya!"
  13. 25Rotate
  14. 27First responder, for short
  15. 28Sign after Leo
  16. 32Pickle herb
  17. 33"Little piggy"
  18. 34Olympic discipline in snowboarding and freestyle skiing
  19. 35Bold poker declaration
  20. 37#
  21. 38Silk case spun by some moth caterpillars
  22. 39Remote battery, often
  23. 40Lots and lots
  24. 41Celeb gossip site
  25. 42___ Potato Head
  26. 43Short softball tap
  27. 44Indiana's WNBA team
  28. 46Maximum
  29. 47Golfing more than working, perhaps
  30. 51That woman
  31. 54Very eager
  32. 55"Approximately"
  33. 57"Golly!"
  34. 58"Today Means ___" (Sierra DeMulder poem)
  35. 59Wasn't at full health
  36. 60Helper (Abbr.)
  37. 61Hatchlings' home
  38. 62Walks slowly

Down

  1. 1Italian sparkling wine
  2. 2___ Mints (cookies)
  3. 3Dollar
  4. 4"Why do you ___?"
  5. 5Taylor Swift song with the lyric "I'd be a fearless leader / I'd be an alpha type / When everyone believes ya / What's that like?"
  6. 6"What a shame!"
  7. 7"Shoot over a message on Outlook"
  8. 8Accessory for Mr. Monopoly
  9. 9Sport with clay targets
  10. 10"Your turn for this carnival ride!"
  11. 11Cafeteria food holder
  12. 12French currency
  13. 13List of options
  14. 18Like carpaccio
  15. 22Big name in jeans
  16. 23It might start with a soft launch?
  17. 25"You're So Vain" singer Carly
  18. 26Locale
  19. 27Geologic span
  20. 29Boca ___, Florida
  21. 30Bigger than big
  22. 31ACLU and CARE (Abbr.)
  23. 32Cubes in casinos
  24. 33Sardine container
  25. 34Sheep's call
  26. 36Player who says "You sunk my battleship!"
  27. 37Contains
  28. 39Shows up
  29. 42Self-focused period of relaxation
  30. 43Undeserved negative reputation
  31. 45Person unlikely to eat a cheeseburger (for at least two reasons)
  32. 46Business VIP
  33. 47Epic tale
  34. 48Stars may have big ones
  35. 49Fuzzy green growth
  36. 50Tenant's payment
  37. 51Head light?
  38. 52___ out (barely achieved)
  39. 53Some lipstick shades
  40. 56"Didn't know that before now," in a text

The answer to “Silk case spun by some moth caterpillars” in the USA Today crossword is COCOON — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on September 7, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 38-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Silk case spun by some moth caterpillars” answer

COCOON (6 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is COCOON.

What does COCOON mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of COCOON is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a silky case spun by the larvae of many insects for protection as pupae
  • a covering that prevents the corrosion of metal equipment

When else has “Silk case spun by some moth caterpillars” appeared?

USA Today reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 7, 2026 (most recent) → COCOON. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Silk case spun by some moth caterpillars”?

The answer is COCOON, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on September 7, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Silk case spun by some moth caterpillars”?

6 letters: COCOON.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on September 7, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 38-Across.

Can “Silk case spun by some moth caterpillars” have a different answer?

Yes — USA Today sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's USA Today answers?

The full grid for September 7, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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