Actual ranges may, in many cases, be more expansive than noted, but South Dakota is well known as a transition state where many of the silkmoths common to the eastern United States are no longer found.
Luna is found only in the east; H. columbia gloveri and Coloradia doris and pandora are found only in the west; cecropia and polyphemus are probably widespread and fairly common.
Clicking on a scientific name will take you to a file with pictures and/or information.
# Automeris io |
Member Jeff Schumacher writes, "I have found both
H. cecropia and A. polyphemus in Brookings county
where I live, and H. cecropia in McPherson county, South Dakota,
where I grew.
Non-member Sara Painter of Rapid City, Pennington County, sent me an image of an Hyalophora cecropia
fifth instar larva, hopelessy parasitized, on August 24, 2009.
Non-member John Masterton reports, "I live north of the
town of New Underwood about 20 miles east of Rapid City (Pennington
County). I was
on your P.E.I. site and was reading about the Hyalophora columbia gloveri
and where they are found. Just thought I would tell you that they
are found here as I have raised 100's of them. We also have
Hyalophora cecropia, Automeris io, Antheraea poylphemus
and a cross that looks like the old gloveri pictures.
John also reports Coloradia doris and Coloradia pandora
from the Black Hills in Pennington County.
Non-member Tom Middagh sends the following image of Actias luna from Clay County, in southeastern South Dakota. The colouration (absence of burgundy-red-maroon borders) and timing (July 22, 2006) of this specimen, suggests there is possibly an earlier brood.
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