Actual ranges may, in many cases, be more expansive than noted. There are some species indicated that may now be extirpated.
Clicking on a scientific name will take you to a file with pictures and/or information.
Joe Garris writes, July 27, 2019:
"Hi Bill,
I just checked the BAMONA website, and see that regalis has been sighted in nearby counties of Warren and Morris in 2018-2019.
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."
Citheronia regalis female, Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey,
July 27, 2019, courtesy of Joe Garris.
Citheronia regalis fifth instar, Mercer County, New Jersey,
August 2010, courtesy of Carolynne Lewis-Arévalo.
Eacles imperialis prepupal, Somerset County, New Jersey,
September 23, 2009, courtesy of Charles Decker.
The distributions probably exceed those noted. I suspect most species fly throughout the entire state when/where there is suitable habitat. However, Samia cynthia and Hemileuca nevadensis are probably limited in their ranges, and some very knowledgable people report absences of angulifera and regalis despite what seems to be good habitat with lots of natural host plants.
Tony McBride writes, "I have never seen an angulifera in Warren County; however, I have seen them within five miles of the Warren border and Warren County has some of the best tulip tree stands in New Jersey. Update from Tony : "I had a female angulifera at my light two nights ago (June 24, 2003)... first record for Warren County that I've seen. No imperialis (now recorded) or regalis up my way that I know of...strange with all the walnut around, I don't know if imperialis occurs in the southern parts of Warren, but I suspect it does.
I have had all of these right in my yard, except maia, which occurs at Yards Creek Generating Station up on the Kittatinny Ridge. All known NJ populations of Great Lakes maia are in Sussex County.
Hyalophora cecropia, Antheraea polyphemus, Actias luna, Automeris io, Callosamia promethea, Hemileuca maia,Anisota virginiensis and Dryocampa rubicunda.
Mark Lasko writes, "I'm in Ocean County, New Jersey. The wild Sats I've regularly encountered over the last 30 + years are as follows:
Strays or very rare:
My father in Pottersville, Hunterdon County, reports imperialis at lights in early July. Healthy populations of luna, polyphemus, io,
rubicunda, cecropia, promethea, angulifera and imperialis in Hunterdon County 2005.
Hyalophora cecropia (unbelievably had 2 broods a few years back - but that was a first and only time)
Antheraea polyphemus - 2 to 3 broods
Actias luna - 2 to 3 broods
Automeris io
Callosamia promethea - 2 to 3 broods
Citheronia regalis
Citheronia sepulcralis
Eacles imperialis
Hemileuca maia
Anisota stigma
Anisota senatoria
Anisota virginiensis
Dryocampa rubicunda
Sphingicampa bicolor
Callosamia angulifera
Hemileuca nevadensis
Samia cynthia advena - attracted a beat-up male only once
(1996)
from 3 ex-pupa captive females calling in back yard
(I've never
released any of this species to the wild, so it certainly wasn't
one
of mine)
Joe Garris reports from Sussex County: Actias luna, Anisota virginiensis, Automeris io, Callosamia angulifera, Callosamia promethea, Dryocampa rubicunda and Hyalophora cecropia. To my surprise, Joe indicates he has not seen Antheraea polyphemus in Sussex. The indication on the map is an interpolation by myself as of this date (August 2006); now confirmed by Joe Garris.
Joe Garris writes (July 20, 2012), "Just recorded/collected the first ever Eacles imperialis in Sussex County, NJ, at least according to Dr. Dale Schweitzer. There have been several sightings/specimens in Warren County over the last couple of years and of course from Hunterdon County south but none for Sussex County.
"FYI, I've also included an updated list of species of Saturniidae, Sphingidae and Catocala that I've recorded/collected here in Stillwater, Sussex Co, NJ."
I will be updating the New Jersey Saturniidae, Sphingidae and Catocala pages to reflect the data Joe has provided for Sussex County:
Eacles imperialis, Imperial Moth, 7/16/2012;
Dryocampa rubicunda, Rosy Maple Moth, 7/13/2005;
Anisota virginiensis, Pink-striped Oakworm Moth, 7/5/2006;
Automeris io, Io Moth, 6/25/2005;
Antheraea polyphemus, Polyphemus Moth, 5/23/2007;
Actias luna, Luna Moth, 7/1/2006;
Callosamia promethea, Promethea Moth, 7/11/2005;
Callosamia angulifera, Tulip Tree Silk Moth, 7/11/2006;
Hyalophora cecropia, Cecropia Moth, 5/26/2006.
On September 4, 2013, Joe Garris writes, "Odd summer this year. I've collected and recorded Eacles imperialis on four different occasions here in Sussex County, NJ, and I had recorded/collected it one time last year. Dale Scweitzer indicated that E. imperialis was not historically found this far north in NJ (Sussex county) and mine were the first records he knew of."
Eacles imperialis male, Sussex County, New Jersey,
2013, courtesy of Joe Garris.
David and Catherine Perrin reports Eacles imperialis and Antheraea polyphemus from
Gloucester County, confirmed with photos.
Eacles imperialis male, Gloucester County, 2011, courtesy of Joe and Catherine Perrin.
David and Catherine also confirm flights of Anisota virginiensis and Dryocampa rubicunda in Gloucester County in June.
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