Saturniidae of British Columbia
Antheraea polyphemus larva, Armstrong, British Columbia, courtesy of Howard Coneybeare.
The following Saturniidae are found in British Columbia western
Canada. They are grouped into respective subfamilies and tribes.
Clicking on a scientific
name will take you to a page with pictures and information.
If you have additional information regarding flight times
(listed below table) or additional species to add, please send email
to oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Visit North American Catocala (Underwing Moths) website.
Visit British Columbia Catocala (Underwing Moths) website.
Visit Sphingidae of the Americas (Hawk Moths/Sphinx Moths) website.
Visit British Columbia Sphingidae (Hawk Moths/Sphinx Moths) website.
Hemileucinae
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Hemileuca e. eglanterina.
The Western sheepmoth (wingspan: m: 57-70mm; f: 57-72mm), is highly variable in its colouration and patterning. Forewing upperside ground colour ranges
from yellow-orange to cream to pink with black markings. The upperside of the hindwing is yellow-orange to orange with narrow to wide black markings.
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Hemileuca hera.
Hemileuca hera, (wingspan: m: 55-67mm; f: 62-64mm), flies in the Great Basin area of southeastern British Columbia in
sagebrush communities, pinyon-juniper woodland, and subalpine sagebrush meadows at elevations as high as 10,000 feet.
Wings are white with black markings including a black crescent-shaped cell spot on each wing.
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Hemileuca nuttalli.
Hemileuca nuttalli, (wingspan: m: 63-70mm; f: 63-64mm),
flies in south central British Columbia.
Varying amounts of yellow-orange scaling on forewings. Downward turn of hw black pm line near the anal angle
indicates nuttalli. In eglanterina, the same line is straight. Nuttalli tend to have finer and lesse extensive black markings on the fw,
seldom extending into the median area.
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Saturniinae: Attacini
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Hyalophora c. gloveri male. In Canadian Prairie provinces
this is a brownish species with maroon highlights in basal and median areas. The post median area tends to
be grey. The white cell markings are not elongated as most often occurs in the hindwings of euryalus.
If present in anything other than intergrade form, it would likely only be found in eastern BC.
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Hyalophora euryalus male. This species is typically darker
than the specimen depicted, but is not the predominantly brownish colour of northern columbia gloveri.
The post median area is usually concolourous with rest of wing, lacking grey scales in the pm area.
The extension of the hindwing cell marking may be quite elongated or only slightly so.
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Hyalophora kasloensis male. Hyalophora "kasloensis" is believed to have originated
as a hybridization between H. euryalus to the south and west and Hyalophora columbia to the east and north. It is self-sustaining.
Moths tend to be darker than euryalus with more black scaling in the sub-terminal and terminal areas.
The larvae have bright red thoracic and abdominal scoli.
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Saturniinae: Saturniini
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Antheraea polyphemus male.
(wingspan approximately 125mm). Ground colour varies considerable from reddish brown to tan.
Occasionally I see a melanic form with much grey scaling on the wings and sides of the body.
Flies from very late May into early July.
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Hyalophora kasloensis, Prince George, British Columbia,
courtesy of Michele Jensen.
Antheraea polyphemus fly from late May until mid July.
Antheraea polyphemus, Prince George, British Columbia,
July 13-14, 2011, courtesy of Marty Ashfield.
Marty writes, "Thought I would let you know that there is a Polyphemus Moth in Prince George, BC.
"I found the moth yesterday (July 13th, 2011) on the outside wall of my store in the morning at about 9:00am, and was able to take some pictures, however,
the wings were closed and I did not want to disturb it.
"This morning (July 14th, 2011) the wings were open, and I was able to get some nice pictures of this beautiful creature.
I must add that I did not know what kind of moth it was and so went on the computer and did a search - so thank you for all the information on one of
nature's beauties."
Brian Hampson confirms Antheraea polyphemus in Burnaby, British Columbia, with an image, taken July 20, 2011, on his blog.
Antheraea polyphemus, 12km south of Quesnel, near West Fraser Rd, British Columbia,
September 21, 2011, courtesy of Ben Trott.
Elaine Dixon sends the following images from Canyon, in extreme southern British Columbia, near the border with Idaho.
Hyalophora euryalus female, Canyon, British Columbia,
May 25, 2013, courtesy of Elaine Dixon.
Antheraea polyphemus male, Canyon, British Columbia,
June 22, 2009, courtesy of Elaine Dixon.
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