Western Iowa
Actual ranges may, in many cases, be more expansive than noted. There are some species that may now be extirpated in some of the indicated counties.
Clicking on a scientific name will take you to a file with pictures and/or information.
Non-member Mark Hinds confirms Hyalophora cecropia from Des Moines, Polk County, with the image below, June 19, 2004.
Mark also sent me an image of an Eacles imperialis larva in September, 2003.
Non-member Julie Alvarez, Linn County, confirms Actias luna with a larva find on September 29, 2002. Larva turned amber just before spinning.
Non-member Cindy Wardle, Burlington, Iowa, (Des Moines County) writes, "I'm so excited. I was mowing the other day and this beauty caught my eye. Had never seen one before and took a lot of pictures and video.
"I believe this was a female. The body was huge! It stayed from the time I saw it until it flew away for about 10 to 15 minutes on the side of a wooden outdoor figure we have. It keep "humping" its body up and down on the side of this wood figure.
Then after it flew away there was a small line of liquid running down the side of the wood."
Cindy sent me images of Hyalophora cecropia
and I suggested the cocoon to be nearby as the "squirt" was probably
metabloic fluid, generally expelled at first flight.
Tom Jantscher has sent me the following sightings from Linn and Story counties.
Actias luna, July 12, 2010, Linn County
Antheraea polyphemus, May 23, 2010, Story County
Antheraea polyphemus, June 13, 20, 2010, Linn County
Callosamia promethea, June 6, 11, 16(2), 17, 2010, Linn County
Eacles imperialis, July 15, 2010, Linn County
Hyalophora cecropia, June 9, 16, 2010, Linn County
Tom Jantscher sends the following report for 2011:
Antheraea polyphemus: Linn County: May 30; Muscatine: June 2
Callosamia promethea: Linn County: June 2, 3, 6-9, 21-22, 24-25, 27-29, July 1, 5-6; Buchanan County: June 6; Black Hawk June 26; Jackson: June 27; Tama: June 28;
Benton: June 29;
Clinton: July 1; Muscatine: July 6
Eacles imperialis: Linn County: July 22
Hyalophora cecropia: Linn County: June 3, 12, 14-16, 19, 21
Sphingicampa bicolor:Linn County: May 22, August 19
Thomas Jantscher sends the following report for 2012:
1-Apr-2012, Washington, Actias luna
4-May-2012, Lee, Sphingicampa bicolor
5-May-2012, Henry, Hyalophora cecropia
11-May-2012, Linn, Callosamia promethea
20-May-2012, Lee, Actias luna
6-Jun-2012, Linn, Hyalophora cecropia
6-Jun-2012, Lee, Hyalophora cecropia
8-Jun-2012, Linn, Hyalophora cecropia
10-Jun-2012, Linn, Callosamia promethea
11-Jun-2012, Fayette, Callosamia promethea
Actias luna fifth iinstars, Linn County, Iowa,
July 18, 2013, courtesy of Thomas Jantscher.
The luna larvae image above shows the variability in degree of red on fifth instar larvae.
Thomas has been updating me with regard to Sphingidae and Saturniidae images and sightings from Iowa each year since 2010, and I have been adjusting the Iowa range maps (Saturniidae) and county thumbnail checklists (Sphingidae).
I don't think I have ever seen the dark grey to black pm line, evidenced in the image below, on lunas from New Jersey to PEI, Canada.
Actias luna Chatfield Park, Lee County, Iowa,
August 6, 2013, courtesy of Thomas Jantscher.
Sighting report for 2013, courtesy of Thomas Jantscher:
29-May-2013; Van Buren; Sphingicampa bicolor
8-Jun-2013; Lee; Actias luna;
22-Jun-2013; Mitchell; Callosamia promethea
26-Jun-2013; Mitchell; Callosamia promethea
5-Jul-2013; Monona; Hemileuca nevadensis Larva record
5-Jul-2013; Monona; Hyalophora cecropia Cocoon record
5-Jul-2013; Fremont; Automeris io
13-Oct-2013; Monona; Hemileuca nevadensis
Callosamia promethea male, Linn County, Iowa,
June 26, 2013, courtesy of Thomas Jantscher.
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