Actual ranges may, in many cases, be more expansive than noted. In some cases, populations may no longer exist.
Clicking on a scientific name will take you to a file with pictures and/or information.
Non-member Valinn Ranelli (June 19, 2004; New London County) writes, "We definitely have a large population of promethea, as I had 7-8 wild males flying aroud a cage containing a female about 2 weeks ago. We have TONS of polyphemus - a female literally draws clouds of males if you stay up to watch them. We do have angulifera, but I have only seen 2 from CT and they were caught by someone else (the same guy who found the regalis). The female was from my area, but I don't know where the male was found. We don't have very many tulip trees in our area, so I think they are probably rather uncommon. We seem to have healthy popoulations of luna and cecropia, but the cecropia seem to be rarer than they used to be (haven't seen one in 5 years). We have io as well, but I haven't seen one in a couple of years."
Robert Muller writes,
"Between the 40s & 60s the six species listed below were found by me
in both Fairfield & New Haven Counties. They are since long gone as
far as I know. I never see any of them.
"I believe it was due to the MASSIVE spraying for Gypsy moths and the
introduction of a parasite that was nonspecific to just Gypsy moths and
attacked every larva out there. I can't speak for their present
status because I gave up trying to collect these species in Connecticut
years ago since I no longer saw them.
"Listed are those that were present and their status:
Anisota stigma = Common, larva could be found every where,
NO MORE
Callosamia angulifera is present but rare in Fairfield County;
the last one I caught was in Bridgeport, CT., right in the center of
town.
Anisota virginiensis = Uncommon
Citheronia regalis = present but rare
Dryocampa rubicunda = Common
Eacles imperialis = Uncommon
Automeris io = Common, larva could be found every where,
NO MORE"
Liz Himmelmann (Middlesex County) reports seeing a luna at a porch light in Killingworth on May 25, 2003.
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