Saturniidae of Massachusetts
Male Polyphemus moth by Dan MacKinnon
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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 senatoria |
Hemileucinae |
Saturniinae: Attacini |
Saturniinae: Saturniini |
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Anisota stigma fly from mid June to early August.
Eacles imperialis fly from mid July to end of July.
Automeris io fly from early June to mid August.
Hemileuca lucina fly from mid to late September.
Hemileuca maia fly from mid July to mid October.
Callosamia promethea fly from mid May probably until at least end of June; may be a partial second brood some years.
Hyalophora cecropia fly from mid May to early August.
Actias luna fly from mid May probably until end of June; there
is at least a partial second brood, starting in July.
Alex Baranowski writes, July 21, 2012, "I have some pretty exciting news for you.
I went to Maine and on Tuesday. I was in Ogunquit and saw an adult male Actias luna.
He was resting at a kayaking place and was a huge male.
I don't know if they are double brooded in Maine or if he accidentally emerged early or something, but I thought I'd let you know."
Antheraea polyphemus flies from late May until late July; there may be a partial second brood in late July-early August.
Don Adams writes (July 29, 2010), "For the first year in many here in W. Bridgewater, yesterday, three female promethea and one female poly, raised from spring 2010 eclosed parents, popped out of their cocoons, and last PM or very early this AM the poly called two beautiful wild males and is paired with one of these. The female will lay eggs this PM, and cats are easy to raise on Red or Black Oak."
I have recently (May 2006) added both Samia cynthia and Citheronia regalis based on an email from Matthew Arey in Essex County that both are occasionally seen in his area.
Tea Kesting-Handly writes, June 6, 2013, "In doing some research last year, I visited a friend in Wareham, MA, who had found a female Regalis (very tattered) on his window, he gave me a few eggs, and today, the pupae started hatching! I have two males sitting in my cage, and hoping a female may emerge.
"I don't know how these moths are doing in MA, as I have done extensive research for the National Park Service in the Cape Cod National Seashore and NEVER encountered regalis anywhere, but I thought it was cool that a female did come into MA. Hopefully in the future, these moths will be able to re-populate MA.
"Has anyone else ever encountered regalis?"
Matthew Arey replies, June 7, 2013:
"Historically the Regal Moth (C. regalis) occurred only very sporadically in New England aside from the fact that there exists plenty of the larval hosts (Hickories, Walnut, Butternut, Sumac etc.). I do have records for Massachusetts.
"During the summers of 1982 and 1983 there was a localized population here on the North Shore (Essex County). I found several adults as well as the huge larvae (Hickory Horned Devils) later in the summer, but in the years following they seemed to just disappear for whatever reason (parasitism, a hard winter….?). Also in 1982, I obtained a male Imperial Moth (E. imperialis) in Boxford, MA. The Imperials today are only known from a Martha’s Vineyard Is. population where some adults occasionally stray onto the mainland.
"Many more years passed until 1997 when I did find a late instar C. regalis larva in Topsfield, MA. I took it home and it successfully pupated. It overwintered and out emerged a perfect adult male in early July of the following year (1998).
"In July 2001, I found a worn male at a gas station (MV lights) in Gloucester, MA. That was the last time I had ever seen one in MA. However, the Pine Devil Moth does occur in MA, but is considerably rare and in isolated populations. They are at Myles Standish S.F. in Carver / Plymouth MA and probably in similar Pine / Oak barren habitat on the Cape and in southern Rhode Island."
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