Actual ranges may, in many cases, be much more expansive than noted. I suspect cecropia, io, luna and polyphemus fly throughout the state.
Clicking on a scientific name will take you to a file with pictures and/or information.
Ian Miller was very surprised and excited to spot an Eacles imperialis male perched in a nearby spruce tree in Eau Claire County. To our knowledge this is the first time this species has been documented for Eau Claire County, and Ian has been collecting for a long time. I don't know whether Ian displodged it from its tree branch or if it flew to the ground on its own accord.
Eacles imperialis male, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin,
July 24, 2021, courtesy of Ian Miller
Non-member Mary Ann Roesler reports Hyalophora cecropia in La Crosse County, June 17, 2008.
Hyalophora cecropia La Crosse County, Wisconsin, June 17, 2008, Mary Ann Roesler.
Mary Hallett confirms Eacles imperialis in Rock County via a larval image. Scott Boutilier reports a luna from Columbia County, May 18, 2007; an Eacles imperialis from Columbia Country, July 14, 2007.
Non-member John Heybach reports a luna from Door County Peninsula (Northeastern Wisconsin), woods, Lake Michigan lakefront, wetlands, first week in July, 2004.
Member Jeff Johnson reports luna and polyphemus present in Vilas County, June 13, 2004.
Non-member Anna DeMers provides the image of the male Antheraea polyphemus from Spooner, Washburn County, June 13, to the right. |  |
Non-member Michael A. Bakke reports Hyalophora cecropia in Holmen, La Crosse County, June 7, 2004.
Non-member Kate La Gosh confirms Hyalophora cecropia in St. Francis, Milwaukee County, via a larva find on September 13, 2002.
Non-member Kristin Kleeberger, Waukesha County, confirms larva of Eacles imperialis September 12, 2002.
Member Dan Zieher (May 25, 2003; Portage County) writes, "The following species need to be added to Portage county: Dryocampa rubicunda, Anisota virginiensis, Hemilucea maia, Automeris io, Actias luna, Antheraea polyphemus."
Member Elie Rudolph (May 29, 2003; Dane County) writes, "In the Cambridge, WI area (30 minutes from Madison), I have seen lunas and polys around, some cecropias, a few imperials, and that is about it for silk moths. Hope that this helps."
Non-member Vicki Scheibe (June 5, 2003) reports cecropia from Marathon County.
Antheraea polyphemus confirmed from Greenville in Outagamie County (June 5, 2003).
Eacles imperialis confirmed from Rock County by member Mary Hallet with larval image in 2002.
Non-member Brett Domke (June 11, 2003) confirms Callosamia promethea in Prairie du Sac (Sauk County) via wild males responding to calling females from wild collected cocoons.
Non-member Fred Smith of Sussex (Waukesha County) 25 miles West of Milwaukee confirms Antheraea polyphemus with a sighting of an adult moth on July 3, 2003.
Member Jeff Johnson writes, "On the morning of July 8, 2003,
@ 3:30 am I got another pairing of H. cecropia in Waukesha,
WI. The wild male she attracted in was very beautiful (not beat up
at all). He must have just come out of the cocoon in the last day or
two. Very late flights of H. cecropria in SE Wisconsin this
year.
"In Shawano County I have collected cocoons w/ successful emergence
the following spring of both A. polyphemus and C. promethea.
The polyphemus in the area seem to be
associated w/ red-twigged dogwood and the promethea w/ wild
cherry. I am sure luna and cecropia are also present,
but I just can't confirm that for sure at the moment. Additionally,
despite quite an effort on my part in at least the
last two years I have not been able to find any H. columbia
cocoons in the area. This is in spite of the fact that many tamarack
(larch) trees are present in this area of the state."
Non-member Don Reed writes,
"You may be interested to know that we are seeing some use of Purple
loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) by Buck moth larvae
(Hemileuca maia) in the Scuppernong Wildlife Area (SWA)
[Jefferson County]. This generally happens when available willow
(Salix exigue, S. bebbiana, S. discolor, S. nigra) and
cottonwood (Populus deltoides) food plants are used up. The
SWA is located in southeastern Wisconsin. The habitat largely
consists of sedge meadow and wet to dry mesic prairie, with stands of
Oak savanna and shrub carr (willow thicket). Blocks of these habitat
areas -- particularilly the prairies and sedge meadows -- are
frequently burned to control shrubs and exotic species. We’ve noticed
a substantial increase Buck moth numbers over the years in areas
where prescription burning has occurred. We intentionally burn patchy
to preserve prairie invertebrates, but variable soil moisture levels
compound the patchiness of our burns."
Member Mary Hallett sent me images of a
female Callosamia promethea hanging from a cocoon
on a lilac bush in Beloit, Rock County, from the early 1980's.
Several males had responded and the female promethea was in copula
with one.
Non-member Summer Ryant sent me an image of a male
Antheraea polyphemus May 22, from Green Lake county, in the
city of Berlin. I have added the sighting to the map.
Non-member Ray Dalman sends the following images. This may be the first confirmed report of virginiensis in Waukesha County.
Anisota virginiensis fifth instar, Kettle Moraine State Forest, Waukesha County, Wisconsin,
August 5, 2019, courtesy of Ray Dalman.
Anisota virginiensis fifth instar, Kettle Moraine State Forest, Waukesha County, Wisconsin,
August 5, 2019, courtesy of Ray Dalman.