July 16, 2019 to August 15, 2019

Hi All,

Many thanks to Derek Bridgehouse who provides the following image of hybrid specimens.

Hybrid male and female from Hyalophora columbia columbia female, Nova Scotia,
Hyalophora kasloensis male, Idaho, courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse.

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Here is what has been happening in US in spring-summer 2019:

March 17: Actias luna pairings of reared females with wild fly-in males; Florida and Alabama; some eggs are being shipped March 18-19 to southern states.
Luna pairing in Alabama March 29, eggs being shipped April 1, another pairing April 11, another pairing April 14, a pairing May 26 from reared stock with wild male; a pairing May 29 from reared stock with fly-in male. Luna pairings in Alabama and Ohio June 3-5; Ohio June 13, 20; Alabama June 4, 13, 15.

Wild polyphemus are flying in Comal County, Texas, March 23, 2019: we are shipping polyphemus eggs from Alabama April 12; again on April 20 again around May 10; May 15; from North Carolina May 21; from Ohio June 9, 16, 20

Callosamia promethea: June 25 Ohio; June 25 Michigan;

A wild female Hyalophora columbia gloveri is laying eggs in Arizona, April 1-2

Citheronia regalis eggs are being shipped from Alabama, April 16-17; from Ohio July 1

Hyalophora cecropia eggs are being shipped from North Carolina starting May 17-20; from Michigan June 21; 25; from Ohio June 25.

Automeris io eggs are being shipped from Alabama starting May 26; Ohio June 1; Alabama, June 26.

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Pachysphinx modesta: Ohio June 17.

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I overwinter my breeding stock in sandwich sized plastic tubs with no airholes and the lids snapped on tight. I am taking cocoons out of refrigerated storage as per the following schedule.

May 15: one luna; one polyphemus
May 17: one luna; one polyphemus; one cecropia; one columbia
May 19: one luna; one polyphemus: two cecropia; one columbia; plus some smaller male columbia
May 21: three luna; one polyphemus; two cecropia; one columbia; plus 4 smaller NS columbia.
May 22: two luna; one polyphemus; three cecropia; one columbia; four Dryocampa rubicunda and one Sphingidae
May 24: remaining cocoons taken out of cold storage

I am placing the cocoons in a hardware cloth cage which is sitting on the floor in corner of the livingsroom. If warmer, more spring-like weather arrives, I will move cocoons outdoors, but keep them out of direct sunlight.

I anticipate taking cocoons out of refrigeration in greater numbers every other day so that I will have grestest number of eclosions in sync with peak natural flights. I will move some Dryocampa rubicunda and one Smerinthus pupae out of cold storage on May 21. The naked pupae will go into a closed plastic container which I use for Ceratocampinae and Sphingidae pupae eclosions.

Eclosions of females that paired:

Cecropia: June 9 paired June 13; June 16; June 22 paired in NS June 23
Colombia: (2) June 14 paired June 15; June 17 paired 18; June 17 chilled and paired in NS June 23; June 20; wild columbia taken in Elliotvale, PE, June 24; June 26 did not pair June 27
Polyphemus: (2) June 16 paired June 17; June 20 paired; wild female taken in Elliotvale, PE, June 23
Rubicunda: June 16 paired; wild female taken in Elliotvale PE June 19
Luna: paired June 18; paired June 20; paired June 23 in NS; June 26 did not pair

There were males that eclosed as well, but I did not record dates. As of June 27, I believe I have one cecropia, two polyphemus and possibly three luna yet to eclose.

A female polyphemus emerged and paired July 3. I had a cecropia emerge and pair on July 8. She deposited hundreds of eggs. A female luna emerged on July 5 that did not pair until June 8. She was big and fat, but did not lay any eggs, although she was carrying a full load. Three days earlier I had a male luna emerge, and I released it.

A friend in Elliotvale, PEI, took a female cecropia at lights July 5, and many modesta and cerisyi, in late June and very early July. Same friend took many female rubicuna (I think five) at lights in early July. He also took a male luna at lights in very late June. It seems flight season for most Saturniidae species was extended for a week to ten days due to consistetly cold wet spring weather on PEI.

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Rafael Almeida sends an image of a live female Arsenura sylla sylla from Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil. Image has been posted to Acre page as well as to sylla paga. I think this may be the first time this species is confirmed in Acre.

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John Christensen has sent beautiful images of Syssphinx heiligbtodti from Texas. This marks the first time adult images of live specimens of this species are posted on WLSS. More images available on the heilgbrodti page.

Syssphinx heiligbrodti, Starr County, Texas, courtesy of John Christensen.

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Joe Garris writes, July 27, 2019:

"Hi Bill,
My first Citheronia regalis showed up (Sussex County) at the light last night!
It was a huge female, slightly worn. I've reared them (a few years ago) but this is my first occurrence of a live (wild) specimen! I can't get over how big this wild one is compared to the reared specimens I have in my collection!
I checked the light on the south end of the house at about 3:45am, and she was hanging on the back of my rain gauge! I don't know what this means as far as northward movement of the species, but I do know that it wasn't too long ago that E. imperialis was nonexistent here. Now, it's the most common big silkmoth here. I've recorded data for seeing around 100 imperialis so far this summer (2019) at the lights.
take care.
Joe."

I, Bill Oehlke, can still remember travelling from Hunterdon County, New Jersey, with my father's friend, either Mel Osbourne or Joe Mueller, to Sussex County. Mel O. or Joe M. was trying to find some rare butterfly species, known from Sussex County, but not nearly as common or even non-existent in other N.J. counties. My father had explained the scarcity by describing Sussex County as the "icebox of N.J.", known for its traditionally cooler weather compared to the rest of the state. It is nice to learn that Joe is now seeing imperialis and regalis there. I have just updated the map for regalis in Sussex County.

I just checked the BAMONA website, and see that regalis has been sighted in nearby counties of Warren and Morris in 2018-2019.

Citheronia regalis female, Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey,
July 27, 2019, courtesy of Joe Garris.

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For the first time on WLSS a live female of Automerina cypria is depicted courtesy of Tracey Woolley, who photogrpahed a specimen in Rarintins, Amazonas, Brazil, January 23, 2017.

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Sphingidae Express

I have recently received images of Sphecodina abbottii larvae from Winnipeg or near Winnipeg, Manitoba. Apparently this species is quite common there or is just more easily spotted feeding in large number on vines attached to buildings.

I have also received images of Hyles lineata from two differentlocations. I expect there will be many more Sphingidae larval images submitted in August-September.

Derek Bridgehouse sends the following report from My. Uniacke, Nova Scotia: "I was out with my lites last Friday, July 19. "Took a female luna and a male Poly; surprised too when first time in 12 years going to Mt Uniacke I got a Sphinx drupiferarum. Also the all the other regulars S. kalimiae; L. bombycoides; D. choerilus; P. modesta; C. undulosa; D. rubicundra; S. poecila."

I was very surprised that Derek was seeing luna, polyphemus and rubicunda so late in July. I think the last of my cecropia eggs will hatch tomorrow, having been deposited July 12. The cool damp weather in Atlantic Canada has extended the flight season of some of the sats. If we have an early hard frost in September and significant leaf drop, larvae may not be able to mature this late summer/fall. I have always found that growth slows significantly in cooler weather.

I was even more surprised when I read this report for July 31, which included sightings of rubicunda and luna: "Last nite @Mt. Uniacke, Hants Co., Nova Scotia:

Dryocampa rubicundra, Sphinx kalmiae, Sphinx drupiferarum, Daraspa choerilus, Ceratomia undulosa, Pachysphinx modesta; St Lawrence Tiger Apantesis ssp.
There was a male Luna reported Blomidon, Kings Co."

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Catocala Capers

Jonathan Willey has just sent me very nice images of Catocala ulalume from Maryland. Dr. Gall has confirmed the specimen as ulaluma and indicatess there are very recent records from both New Jersey and Delaware. I have posted the images and updated the DE, MD and NJ pages to include Ulalume.

Tim Dyson writes from Peterborough, Ontario:

"I tried baiting nearly every night from the 20th of July on, but with no luck whatsoever. On the 29th, however, the first catocala (a rather tattered C. clintoni) did show up on the wall near the back door floodlight.

"Then last night, (July 30th), I baited once again and attracted to the bait were a maximum of nine catocala - one parta, one smallish unijuga, one mira, one blandula, one crataegi, and four C. grynea. And so, it would appear that late by nearly two weeks or not, the catocala will now keep me up and outside very late at night once again for the next few weeks!!

"I am hoping to satisfy somewhat of a wish list this year, and photograph some forms that I have never seen before. Most notably, they would be amatrix - hesseli, untronia - nigrescens, parta - forbesi, meskei - krombeini, cerogama - eliza, and of course, to finally get a decent image of a spread-winged C. coccinata would also be very nice as well!!

I'll let you know in the morning how I make out tonight, but on my return loop from splashing bait out this evening, I did see one C. crataegi feeding on some banana goo on the cedar rail fence."

Tim is an exceptional photographer. I hope he encounters some of the forms on his wish list.

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