DISTRIBUTION:

The Tulip Tree Moth, Callosamia angulifera, (Wing span: 3 1/8 - 4 5/16 inches (8 - 11 cm) ranges in deciduous woodlands from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut west through central New York, southern Ontario, and southern Michigan to central Illinois; south to the Florida panhandle and Mississippi wherever Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree) is present.

Charles Bordelon indicates they have been taken as far west as Cass County, Texas, via reports from by Hugo Kons and Bob Borth, May 8, 2004.

Both males and females come in to lights in Pottersville, New Jersey.

Callosamia angulifera male, April 19, 2006,
Jasper County, South Carolina, courtesy of Dr. Wasil Khan.

The male depicted above has reduced angular markings in the cell areas, suggesting C. securifera. However, the moth appeared at a black light around 9:00 pm, confirming its status as a male C. angulifera. C. securifera males fly during the day.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is one brood from June-August in the north, and there are two or more broods from March-April and in August in the south with the summer brood being darker than the spring brood. Aubrey Scott confirms a mid May flight in Pickens County in northern Georgia where there are probably two broods annually.

Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree or White or Yellow poplar) is the preferred and possibly only natural foodplant of larvae. Both sexes are readily taken at lights.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Mating occurs between dusk and midnight, with most activity around 10 PM. The couple usually only stays paired for a few hours. The male's upperside is brown with angular white cell spots on all wings and much contrast between the basal and outer portions of the wings.

Male Callosamia angulifera

Callosamia angulifera male (verso), April 22, 2006,
Jasper County, South Carolina, courtesy of Dr. Wasil Khan.

Callosamia angulifera female, April 22, 2006,
Jasper County, South Carolina, courtesy of Dr. Wasil Khan.

Callosamia angulifera female, Brevard, Transylvania County, North Carolina,
early August courtesy of Hannah Fitzpatrick via Rachel Fitzpatrick.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Females lay eggs at dusk the following evening, in rows of four to ten on tulip trees. Eggs hatch in one week and the young caterpillars feed in groups. Older caterpillars are solitary and do not eat the main vein of the leaf. This species is subject to disease and definitely should not be overcrowded; just a few larvae per sleeve is best. Dark brown cocoons are spun in a curled leaf which falls to the ground. Searching for cocoons on the ground under Tulip trees is sometimes productive.

Photo courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Callosamia angulifera third instar, courtesy of Joel Szymczyk

Joel writes, May 29, 2006, "Third instar Callosamia angulifera larvae: They appear to be doing well both indoors and sleeved out on Tulip-tree. For whatever reason, a few have red/orange dorsal thoracic scoli, most have yellow."

Callosamia angulifera, Louisiana, courtesy of Vernon Brou

Listed below are the primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Liriodendron tulipifera...... Magnolia tripetala Prunus serotina Sassifras albidum

Tulip tree Umbrella magnolia Wild black cherry Sassafras

See Bruce Feller's Notes on Sassafras

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

"Samia" the daughter of Meander, married Ancaeus 2, the king of Samos, and had several children by him."

The species name, angulifera, is from the Latin angulifer, "angle bearing", and it probably refers to the white, angular cell markings.