Western Missouri
Hyalophora cecropia pairing, Plattsburg, Clinton County, Missouri, June 6, 2010, courtesy of Alison Gordon.
Hyalophora cecropia pairing, Johnson County, Missouri, May 12, 2007, courtesy of Kay Altman.
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.
Hyalophora cecropia pairing, Plattsburg, Clinton County, Missouri, June 6, 2010, courtesy of Alison Gordon.
Hyalophora cecropia pairing, Johnson County, Missouri, May 12, 2007, courtesy of Kay Altman.
Jack Richerson (June 6, 2003) writes, "The imperialis just might be getting ready to hatch a first brood. I caught a male imperialis last night June 6th 2003, Camden County, Missouri."
James McMillen confirms Antheraea polyphemus in Blue Springs, Missouri (Jackson County), 2002. Larvae were feeding on Burr oak.
Frances Dixon reports Eacles imperialis fifth instar, St. Louis, September 18, 2012.
Eacles imperialis fifth instar, St. Louis, Missouri,
September 18, 2012, courtesy of Frances Dixon.
Laura Gillam confirms Eacles imperialis from Steelville, Crawford County, via larval image, taken September 6, 2010.
Eacles imperialis prepupal, Steelville, Crawford County, Missouri,
September 6, 2010, courtesy of Laura Gillam.
"Mid Fall this year, my 8-year old son found a large green caterpillar under one of our birch trees in the front yard. We live in Florissant, Missouri (northeastern St. Louis county on the Alton, IL border). It was the largest and the most beautiful caterpillar I have ever seen in my life. It was more colorful than Himlech from The Bug's Life - which is what my son nicknamed "him" when he found "him." He took it to school and showed it to his teacher. Several of the teachers said it was a Luna caterpillar destined to be a Luna Moth. Within two days of finding the little critter, "he" spun a cocoon on a bottle cap laying across a small twig in the clear bug box my son took him to school in.
After such a miraculous event, we could not do anything but keep "him" nearby all Fall and now Winter.
More miraculous than the find and the cocoon . . . yesterday (February 5, 2004) while I was sitting at the table eating a sandwich for lunch and watching it snow outside...I watched this unbelievably HUGE moth crawling up the wall. It was what we believed to be the Luna Moth. However . . . thanks to your site and the information therein . . . I have come to find I believe what we have is a Polyphemus Moth. The caterpillars (luna vs polyphemus) look very similar . . . however, the moths are distinctly different. The Luna is a beautiful green moth and the polyphemus a wonderful brown color with clear circles on the wings.
When my son anxiously went to touch the moth yesterday (5-6 hours after coming from the cocoon) . . . the moth 'sprayed' what looked like a dark brown colored liquid. Of course he is 8 years old and laughingly said he must have scared the poop out of the moth.
Well in all the excitement, he wanted to take the moth to school today (about 18 hours after coming out of the cocoon) since everyone met the caterpillar, saw the cocoon...they had to meet the moth!
This evening after dinner (about 30-32 hours after coming out of the cocoon) my son went by the moth and shouted "he" was laying eggs. The next miracle in this discovery is that he is not a he but in fact a she. She is laying eggs all over the large bug box, the towel on the table next to the bug box . . . and I suspect anywhere else she lites while we are asleep tonight. I don't have the heart to stuff her in a box if she is laying eggs.
I need some advice from an expert...if she is laying eggs, will these eggs turn to caterpillars without a male moth in the house? I suspect not, but then again according to your info . . . they don't eat as adult moths . . . so I don't know for certain! If I understood correctly . . . they don't even have mouths - correct?
I have attached several pictures I have taken throughout the course of the unveiling from the cocoon to what is now the miracle of birth . . .
I will be reading more on your site . . . this is very interesting . . . in fact, my son has said he is interested in learning to raise Luna caterpillars - I think he just likes the easier name and the brighter color! : ) I am even interested in raising caterpillars and moths. I however am more interested in the ARCHAEOATTACUS EDWARDSII from Asia. Can you recommend some sellers of such stock - that have some in stock?
Thank you and I hope you enjoy the pictures of our little miracle of God here in Missouri,
Anne"
I wrote back: "Anne,Thanks for sending email note and beautiful pictures of Antheraea polyphemus.
Yes, luna and polyphemus caterpillars are very similar.
The sprayed liquid is metabolic waste, not quite poop, but almost the same thing. All moths spray this fluid out just prior to flight. It is harmless but does stain light coloured fabric.
Sorry, but the eggs will not be fertile. Males are good for somethings!
I am surprised by a few things:
1) Unmated females usually don't start laying eggs for at least 54 hours sometimes not even till 78 hours. They usually try to give themselves at least two nights to call in a mate.
2) The outer margins of the wings are quite wavy, hyaline areas (clear spots) are quite large, and the blue in the ocellus (eyespot) is somewhat limited, all suggesting a close relative from Mexico, Antheraea montezuma.
However, the polyphemus is quite variable, and that is what you have.
If the cocoon had remained outdoors, it would not have hatched until late April or early May.
Yes, correct, the adult silkmoths do not eat and do not have have a feeding tube. They live (usually only 7-10 days) off fats stored from caterpillar days. Some moths do have a feeding tube, but not the ones of the Saturniidae family.
She will probably lay about 150 eggs the first night, half that many the second night, half the second night's deposition the third night, etc., until she is out of eggs (250-300 of them)
In nature only about 1-2 % of these eggs ever make it to adult life so don't feel too bad that it emerged "ou-of-season". If you hadn't brought the caterpillar indoors when you did it, might have become bird or woodpecker or mouse food.
I do sell eggs of the luna moth in the spring and mid February I will be putting egg prices at http://www3.islandtelecom.com/~oehlkew/supplies.htm
Lunas are recommended for beginners, as they tend to do well indoors in large jars on cut food where you can watch them. Polyphemus can be reared indoors as well (I also sell them), but tend to do better outdoors in large rearing sleeves (I also sell them) on live food.
The Archaeoattacus edwardsi is not indigenous to the United States and it would be illegal for you to import livestock of that species. Best to just look at pictures and rear the local stuff.
Many men, women and children have enjoyed rearing caterpillars from eggs I have provided over the years and the great metamorphosis of these creatures is a wonderment. Most amazing to me is how they can lie dormant on forest floor under snow from November til May (snow on ground here N-M) and transform a gooey caterpilar mass into a beautiful winged creature with such amazing patterns.
Careful, they are like Lay's Potato Chips, bet you can't rear just one!
My father who is in New Jersey still has cocoons of Callosamia promethea, another species found in Missouri. If you or your son really get hooked on moths, I suggest membership in World's Largest Saturniidae Site. Reading the files and looking at maps will take him and you all over the United States and around the world. I learned much about geography and climate putting the site together. Life-time membership for students is one-time fee of $20.00 U.S.
Some moths lay eggs that overwinter, but not the polyphemus."
Anne's polyphemus
On March 1, 2004, I received a phone call from Perry County. A found polyphemus caterpillar, discovered in the fall, cocooned, and it was then kept indoors at room temperature. A female emerged on March 1.
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