Saturniidae of Alabama
Female Actias luna moth on sweetgum courtesy of John H. Campbell.
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If you have additional information regarding flight times (listed below table) or additional species to add, please send email to oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Ceratocampinae
Anisota consularis ? |
Hemileucinae |
Saturniinae: |
Saturniinae: |
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Anisota consularis probably just along the coast.
Anisota senatoria fly in mid July.
Anisota stigma fly from mid June to early August (three males and female at light in Houston County, August 8, 2008).
Anisota virginiensis fly in May and in September as two broods.
Citheronia regalis fly in late May and September, probably as two broods.
Citheronia sepulcralis fly in mid May and August, probably as two broods. Joel Szymczyk took two females at lights August 5, 2008 in Houston County.
Dryocampa rubicunda fly as two or three broods (maybe more), first flight in early April (Joel Szymczyk, Houston County).
Eacles imperialis fly from April 18--Dirk Bayer (Baldwin County) to June (throughout July - Baldwin County; DB) to early September, possibly double brooded or even triple brooded. Dirk Bayer reports them common in early August 2007. Joel Szymczyk reports them in early August, 2008, (six males, August 8) in Houston County.
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."
Eacles imperialis male, Bon Secour, Alabama, May 11, 2008, courtesy of Dirk Bayer.
Eacles imperialis female, Bon Secour, Alabama, May 11, 2008, courtesy of Dirk Bayer.
Eacles imperialis female, form nobilis, Baldwin County,
Alabama,
May 20 2008, courtesy of Dirk Bayer.
Wild males (typical form) have been flying in and matings with Dirk Bayer's females, May 16, May 20, 2008.
Eacles imperialis male, Bon Secour, Alabama, August 7, 2007, courtesy of Dirk Bayer.
Sphingicampa bisecta fly from early July until late August, probably as two broods.
Automeris io fly from mid April (April 21 DB) and in early June to mid August, possibly two broods; throughout May (May 19, 2006 female at light) in Baldwin County; DB.
Hemileuca maia fly from mid November to mid December.
Callosamia angulifera fly mid July to mid August, Alan Lee reports finding a dead female mid March 2008 (Houston County). Joel Szymczyk took a female at lights August 8, 2008, Houston County.
Callosamia promethea fly from mid May until mid August; probable second brood.
Callosamia securifera fly in early April--Dirk Bayer--Baldwin County, probably as two broods, or as many as four broods in southern most regions (from mid June throughout July - Baldwin County; DB).
Hyalophora cecropia fly from mid May (mid April Baldwin County; Dirk Bayer) to early August.
Actias luna fly from early April (mid March, 2006--southern Baldwin County; (throughout July - Baldwin County; DB); third generation hatching from cocoons on August 25, Dirk Bayer: abundant near end of August) probably until late October, probably as four broods. They have been seen in December-January in Mobile. Joel Szymczyk reports a male luna at a gas station light, Cottonwood, Houston County, Alabama, February 25. This appears to be a premature eclosion as there is no leafout yet of typical larval hosts. Two males observed March 22. Four males observed at lights, March 27 (AL). Joel rerports a male luna at light August 8, 2008 in Houston County.
Antheraea polyphemus flies from early April (mid March, 2006--southern Baldwin County; ( throughout May - Baldwin County; DB; throughout July - Baldwin County; DB); third generation hatching from cocoons on August 25, Dirk Bayer) until October, probably as four broods. They have been seen in December-January in the deep south. Dirk Bayer reports them emerging November 24, - December 1, 2006 from cocoons stored outside in shade. Alan lee reports two males at lights March 27. Joel Szymczyk confirms polyphemus for southeastern Alabama (Houston County).
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Visit Alabama Sphingidae = Hawkmoths.
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