Washington Counties

This distribution chart is a compilation of information from Paul Opler's Moths of North America Website, the Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary, Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2003 , Tuskes', Tuttle's and Collins' The Wild Silk Moths of North America and personal communication with many residents of Washington. See comments below the map.

Actual ranges may, in many cases, be more expansive than noted.

Coloradia pandora, however, is probably at its northern most distribution in Klickitat and may even be just a stray.

H. hera hera and H. nuttalli are probably limited to the eastern half of the state while H. eglanterina is widely distributed.

The Hyalophora are sometimes confused so the report of cecropia in Okanogan County may be an error or a report of a release, and columbia gloveri are probably restricted to the eastern most counties.

H. euryalus and A. polyphemus are probably widespread and common.

Clicking on a scientific name will take you to a file with pictures and/or information.

# Coloradia pandora O Hemileuca eglanterina O Hemileuca hera hera O Hemileuca nuttalli X Hyalophora cecropia X Hyalophora columbia gloveri X Hyalophora euryalus + Antheraea polyphemus

Glee Joy reports Antheraea polyphemus from Olympia, Thurston County, with larvae feeding in late July. Glee also reports a Hemileuca eglanterina larva from near Shelton, probably Mason County, on August 28, 2011.

Hemileuca eglanterina fifth instar, Shelton, Mason County, Washington,
August 27, 2011, courtesy of Glee Joy.

Sandie Durand reports Hemileuca eglanterina from Wauconda, Okanogan County, in habitat including bluebunch wheatgrass and wild roses above a stream, at 4000 feet in August. The larvae probably fed on wild rose or willows near the stream.

Steve Danell (June 2, 2003) writes, "I do know there are H. columbia gloveri and A. polyphemus in Steven's County Washington as I used to see many as a kid. My father still sees them at the lights on his shop in the same place every year!"

Hugo van Paassen (Mason County) writes, "I live in the Olympic National Forest on the shore of Lake Cushman near the south eastern entrance to the Olympic National Park some 6 miles distant.

"I also had and at the moment (June 26, 2003) still have a visitor hanging on the surface of my log house: a female Polyphemus moth."

Don Ehlen writes, "I can confirm polyphemus for
King County, Carnation, 18 June 2000;
King County, Seattle, 2 October 1996;
Jefferson County, Quilcene, Early July 2002."

Brenda Mills (Bellingham) confirms Antheraea polyphemus for Whatcom County with a larva find on September 5, 2003 (cocooning that evening).

Bob Pyle confirms Antheraea polyphemus and Hyalophora euryalus in Wahkiakum County.

John Davis reports (confirmed with images) Antheraea polyphemus, Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis and Hyalophora euryalus from Skamania County. He also reports Coloradia pandora from Klickitat County.

Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis, Lookout Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest,
Skamania County, Washington, July 16, 2006, courtesy/copyright John Davis.

Coloradia pandora male, Major Creek Road, Klickitat County, Washington,
September, courtesy/copyright of John Davis.

Coloradia pandora female, Major Creek Road, Klickitat County, Washington,
September, courtesy/copyright of John Davis.

Hyalophora euryalus female, May 15, 2005,
Stevenson, Skamania County, Washington, courtesy/copyright John Davis.

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