Actual ranges may, in many cases, be more expansive than noted. There are some species indicated (Samia cynthia) that may now be extirpated. Other species are probably widespread. Although no specific counties are given for Sphingicampa bicolor, I suspect it occurs throughout the state.
Clicking on a scientific name will take you to a file with pictures and/or information.
She writes of the larva she encountered, "It is a regal moth and looks exactly like your photo of it with the black and orange horns, and rusty mouth parts. It also has dark black areas where its eyes are. He is 5" long and about 3/4" in diameter. It was on the ground, under a sycamore tree, crawling among the impatiens and pulmonaria."
Bruni reports an Antheraea polyphemus moth from Winchester, Frederick County, June 9, 2007.
Pat Schuler reports a wild Callosamia promethea pairing with a caged female in Bedford County, Virginia, on June 11, 2007.
Susan McSwain presents an impressive list for Nelson County:
Imperial Eacles imperialis 5-8; 5, 9
When there are two sets of numbers, split by an ";", the first set represents sighting months for adult moths and the second set
represents sighting months for larvae.
Royal Walnut Moth / Hickory Horned Devil Citheronia regalis 7, 8; 7
Rosy Maple (Green-striped Mapleworm) Dryocampa rubicunda 4-8
Pink-striped Oakworm Anisota virginiensis 7
Eastern Buck Hemileuca maia 10, 11; 5-7
Io Automeris io 6, 7
Polyphemus Antheraea polyphemus 4-8; 6
Luna Actias luna 4-8; 5, 9
Promethea or Spicebush Silkmoth Callosamia promethea 4,7 3,6
Tulip-tree Silkmoth Callosamia angulifera 6, 7; 6
Cecropia or Robin Hyalophora cecropia 5; 5-7
Member Ritch Peery reports from Richmond, Henrico County: C. prometha, C. angulifera, H. cecropia, A. luna and A. polyphemus and suspects C. securifera.
Non-member Virginia Perry sent me an image of a live, wild cecropia moth on May 28, 2004 from Suffolk VA (in the Tidewater area of VA), I think in the Hampton County area.
Non-member Deborah Loftus reports H. cecropia from Colonial Heights (Chesterfield County), May 2004.
Non-member Craig Tufts, Chief Naturalist,
National Wildlife Federation, reports from
Reston, Virginia, in Fairfax County, May 25, 2004: "For whatever
reason, there is a very impressive, successful, single
gender emergence of polyphemus moths around our building. We have
counted over 50 males this morning. They seem to be clustered around a
shaded west facing part of building-- facing an oak hickory woodland.
"Some moths were seen flying at the front, south-facing part of the
building when employees first arrived. If there was any indication that
something like this might be about to occur, it was observing 5 silkworm
cocoons at our entry pond on a cluster of three small buttonbushes,
Cephalanthus occidentalis, over the winter.
"Given my pessimism about this group of moths however, I assumed that
they would be Compsilura concinnata food and we'd never see any
emergence from whatever species these cocoons represented. Whether the
cocoons were in fact those of polyphemus or not, this morning's
emergence was a very wonderful event.
"The polyphmus is a moth that I usually see perhaps one of every few
years. Cecropias and lunas seem more common and our employees often see
regal and imperial moths on our windows.
"Does anyone have any idea if we can expect females to emerge later than
males? Is there any cyclicity mentioned in the literature for giant
silkworms and particularly polyphemus?
"Just found a beautiful, fresh female Callosamia angulifera on our
walk here at work. In Reston, Virginia, July 7, 2004."
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