Hyalophora euryalus cedrosensis
(Cockerell, 1914) Samia

Male Hyalophora euryalus cedrosensis moth courtesy of Manuel Balcazar-Lara.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 or Attacinae, Blanchard,1840 Tribe: Attacini, Blanchard, 1841 Genus: Hyalophora, Duncan, 1841

MIDI MUSIC "Moon River" copywright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Hyalophora euryalus cedrosensis flies in Mexico on the Isla de Cedros.

Lemaire equates this subspecies with nominate euryalus; Balcazar-Lara treats it as a distinct subspecies.

Hyalophora euryalus cedrosensis is a darker moth with grey scaling obscuring the postmedial line.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is one brood, probably from January-February, depending on altitude and seasonal variation.

Caterpillars probably feed on a wide range of plants including buckbrush (Ceanothus), manzanita (Arctostaphylos), gooseberry (Ribes), madrone (Arbutus menziesii), willows (Salix), alder (Alnus), and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female moths extend a scent gland from the posterior of the abdomen at night, and males, flying into the wind, are able to follow the plume and locate the female. There is considerable variation regarding size and shape of discal spots; sometimes the crescents in the lower wings extend beyond the post medial lines.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Females glue eggs singly or in clumps on leaves of the host plant.

The eggs hatch in 9-14 days and the caterpillars consume foliage.

The bottle-shaped, double-walled cocoon is spun in the outer part of the host plant and is attached to a twig by only one-half its length, leaving the valved-neck free in the air.

Larval Food Plants

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.

Acer glabrum Alnus rubra Amelanchier alnifolia Amelancher florida Arctostaphylos glauca Arctostaphylos patula Betula occidentalis Ceanothus cordulatus Ceanothus integerrimus Ceanothus sanguineus Ceanothus velutinus Ceanothus thyrsiflorus....... Cephalanthus Coffea Laryx laricina Liquidambar styraciflua Malus pumila Photinia arbutifolia Picea Prunus demissa Prunus emarginata Prunus serotina Prunus virginiana Pseudotsuga menziesii Purshia tridentata Pyrus malus Quercus Rhamnus californicus Rhamnus crocea Rhamnus purshiana Rhus arbutus Rhus laurina Ribes alpinum Ribes sanguineum Rosa Salix babylonica Salix discolor Salix exigua Schinus molle Shepherdia argentea Shepherdia canadensis Syringa vulgaris

Maple Red alder Western serviceberry Western serviceberry Black bearberry Greenleaf manzanita Mountain/Water birch Mountain whitethorn Deer brush Ceanothus Snowbrush Blueblossom/Cat's claw Buttonbush Coffee Tamarack Sweetgum Apple Christmasberry Spruce Western chokecherry Bitter cherry Wild black cherry Chokecherry Douglas fir Antelope bitter brush Apple Oak California coffee-berry Hollyleaf buckthorn Cascara Sumac Laurel sumac Alpine currant Currant Rose Weeping willow Pussy willow Sandbar willow California peppertree........... Silver buffaloberry Soapberry Lilac

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