Alabama Counties

This distribution chart is a compilation of information from Paul Opler's Moths of North America Website, the Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary and personal communication with many residents (past/present) of Alabama. See comments below the map.

Actual ranges may, in many cases, be more expansive than noted. Neither Anisota senatoria nor A. virginiensis nor A. consularis have placements on the map, but virginiensis probably flies throughout the state, and senatoria is probably found in at least the northern half, while consularis would be limited to southern coastal counties.

Citheronia regalis probably flies throughout the state while C. sepulcralis is limited to the extreme southern counties.

Other species listed, including Sphingicampa bisecta probably fly throughout most of the state.

Clicking on a scientific name will take you to a file with pictures and/or information.

O Anisota consularis
O Anisota senatoria
O Anisota stigma
O Anisota virginiensis
O Citheronia regalis
O Citheronia sepulcralis
O Dryocampa rubicunda
O Eacles imperialis
O Sphingicampa bicolor
@ Sphingicampa bisecta

# Automeris io
# Hemileuca maia

X Callosamia angulifera
X Callosamia promethea
X Callosamia securifera
X Hyalophora cecropia

+ Actias luna
+ Antheraea polyphemus

O Anisota consularis
O Anisota senatoria
O Anisota stigma
O Anisota virginiensis
O Citheronia regalis
O Citheronia sepulcralis
O Dryocampa rubicunda
O Eacles imperialis
O Sphingicampa bicolor
@ Sphingicampa bisecta

# Automeris io
# Hemileuca maia

X Callosamia angulifera
X Callosamia promethea
X Callosamia securifera
X Hyalophora cecropia

+ Actias luna
+ Antheraea polyphemus

Citheronia regalis, Double Oak Mountain, Birmingham, Shelby County, Alabama,
1100 ft, feeding on sweetgum, August 22, 2010, courtesy of Ken Thornbrough.

Gerod, from Cullman County, wrote, "The Other day (September 3, 2003) while I was in my yard I found an interesting caterpillar. They call them Horned Devils here in Al. They are green with horns and about 5 inches long. I put it in an aquarium with alot of dirt and it burried itself."

J. Tangerine reports a mature Citheronia regalis larva (October 8, 2003) from top of Chandler Mountain in St. Clair County.

Nancy Martin reports Antheraea polyphemus from Elmore County, Alabama, April 24, 2004.

Image courtesy of Nancy Martin.

Non-member Rene' Richardson reports a larva of Anisota senatoria, September 8, 2005. I sent her an image of larva, based on her description: "We found a black caterpillar with thin red/orange stripes down the length of his body. It is smooth, but has tiny spikes along the body and two thick antennae. It is not hairy. It was found at the base of an oak tree among the grass near the driveway edge. It was found in Alabaster, Alabama (Shelby County)."

She confirmed the sighting based on the image.

Dirk Bayer, southern Baldwin County, reports Actias luna and Antheraea polyphemus flying March 17, 2006. Dirk also reports there are at least two broods of sepulchralis in Baldwin County.

Actias luna, Choccolocco Management Area, Cleburne County, Alabama,
March 24, 2007, courtesy of Alice Heath.

Joel Szymczyk reports a male luna at a gas station light, Cottonwood, Houston County, Alabama, February 25. Joel writes, "I think it's rather early in the year. We had a lot of rain a few days ago, and some fairly warm temps."

This appears to be a premature eclosion as Joel reports there is no leafout yet of typical larval hosts.

On September 2, 2008 Joel writes, "29 August I got a male Automeris io.

"Eacles imperialis continues to be very common - all color patterns from almost solid yellow to nearly solid purple. I am finding third to fifth instar imperialis larvae on my Juniper, Oak, and Sweetgum trees. They must have a very extended flight season here, with at least three broods. Also There are a few fourth-fifth instar polyphemus larvae on the oaks."

Joel Szymczyk writes, August 9, 2008, "Last night I saw a caterpillar in the glare of my merc light in the back yard. It was obviously Eacles imperialis. It was on one of the ornamental junipers which were planted before I moved here. I pretty much hate those trees and have been seriously thinking about chopping them all down. They are fairly infested with "bagworm" moths, and one tree was completely killed this year by them. Anyhow I was very surprised to see this eating juniper because there are so many decent oaks to choose from.

"Not five minutes later, I saw an adult Eacles hanging in one of the junipers. Definitely a female, and it was ovipositing. This has to be one of the most massive moths in the eastern USA. Cecropia certainly has larger wing area, but the body of this imperialis is just huge. I guess I'll keep the trees, but I have to figure out how to get rid of the bagworms."

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