Saturniidae of New Brunswick

Chris McCarthy writes, "I e-mailed you last year, and you were very helpful. I have another question. I'm summering on Grand Manan, in the Bay of Fundy, and I came across a large caterpillar that is definitely a saturniid, but I just can't identify it. Unfortunately, it started spinning a cocoon within hours of my finding it, but hopefully the pictures can help identify it. Very large, about 2 1/2- 3 in.. The color of the back was a fleshy, pink/peach, and the side was green, with a tiny orange striping pattern. The head was really outstanding, being bright blue-green. It was essentially free of spines, or hair. I've looked extensively on line, but can't find it. Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks again, hope you're having a great summer!"

I replied, "It is an Actias luna caterpillar. Normally they are green, but prior to spinning cocoons that are going to overwinter, they turn amber to burgundy."

The following Saturniidae are found in New Brunswick in eastern 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 New Brunswick Catocala (Underwing Moths) website.

Visit Sphingidae of the Americas (Hawk Moths/Sphinx Moths) website.

Visit New Brunswick Sphingidae (Hawk Moths/Sphinx Moths) website.

Ceratocampinae Anisota virginiensis Dryocampa rubicunda

Saturniinae: Attacini Callosamia promethea Hyalophora cecropia Hyalophora columbia

Saturniinae: Saturniini Actias luna Antheraea polyphemus

Ceratocampinae Anisota virginiensis. (wingspan: m: 29-36mm; f: 43-51mm), flies in the southern half of New Brunswick. The burgundy-maroon males have a large translucent/hyaline patch on the forewing outside the prominent white cell marking. They are not often photographed in the wild as they fly only during the day in response to calling females. In this image, the female is in the background. Females (below) are taken at lights. Anisota virginiensis female. Pink-striped Oakworm Moth (m: 29-36mm; f: 43-51mm). Males (much different appearance) fly in morning; females at night. Females tend to be without dark spotting or with reduced spotting. All PEI female A. virginiensis show very clear "complexion" with stong contrast between fw purplish marginal area and orangey median area. Dryocampa rubicunda male. Rosy Maple (m: 32-44mm; f: 40-50mm). Males tend to have more pink on wings, are considerably smaller than females, and have more triangular wings than females. There is an almost pure white form called "alba". Both sexes come to lights, males much more abundantly than females. southern 3/4 of New Brunswick. Dryocampa rubicunda alba male. White Rosy Maple (m: 32-44mm; f: 40-50mm). I believe this is just a "form" rather than a subspecies. Moths are primarily white, sometimes with just a hint of pink on the wings. Flies with more typical Dryocampa rubicunda which shows great variation in amount of pink on wings. Saturniinae: Attacini Callosamia promethea male. (m: mm; f: mm). Only females come to lights. Males fly during the day. The male's wings are predominatly black with a weak white postmedian line and no cell markings. Postmedian areas are greyish-tan southern New Brunswick as far north as Fredericton. Callosamia promethea female. (m: mm; f: mm). Only females come to lights. Males fly during the day. The female's wings are predominatly brown with a much stronger off-white postmedian line and weak cell markings. Postmedian areas are greyish-tan southern New Brunswick as far north as Fredericton. Hyalophora cecropia male. Cecropia (m: 120-145mm; f: 130-150mm). Males and females both come to lights. There is considerable variation in the width of the red lines from specimen to specimen. Occasionally the forewing crescents are absent or greatly reduced. All but extreme northern New Brunswick. Hyalophora columbia male. Columbia (m: 45-55mm; f: 46-55mm). Ground colour ranges from brown to almost maroon. Most specimens are primarily dark brown with some reddish-maroon highlights. The post median areas are dark grey, becoming much lighter, almost beige at the outer margins. Males are seldom seen at lights as they only fly at dawn. All but extreme northern New Brunswick. Saturniinae: Saturniini Actias luna male. (wingspan approximately 115-125mm). This species is single brooded in Canada with moths on PEI on the wing from very late May until very early July. The outer margin is traced with either a thin line of maroon scaling or yellow scaling. The body sides may or may not have a line of pink scales. At least to southern halpf of New Brunswick 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. Throughout New Brunswick.

Actias luna fly from very late May into very mid July.

Anisota virginiensis fly from mid June to early July.

Antheraea polyphemus fly from late May until mid July.

Dryocampa rubicunda fly from early June until August, sometimes attempting a second brood.

Hyalophora cecropia fly from mid June to mid July.

Hyalophora columbia fly from mid June to mid July.

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