TARGET SPECIES INFORMATION
The information provided comes from these sources:
Tuskes, P.M., J.P. Tuttle, M.M. Collins. (1996) The Wild Silk Moths of North America: A Natural History of the Saturniidae of the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, NY.
Covell, C.V. (2005) A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America. Virginia Museum of Natural History. Martinsville, VA.
Luna
Key features
• Coloration: Body and wings light green. Front margin of front wings reddish to dark brown.
• Shape: each hind wings extends into a long tail
• Wingspan: 7.5-10cm
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: mainly June
• Host plants: white birch, alder, beech, cherries
• Activity period: nocturnal
Cecropia (Robin Moth)
Key features
• Coloration: Has predominantly earthtones with crescent-like markings and a stripe in the middle of each wing. The stripe has 3 color layers: black, white, reddish-orange (unlike the Columbia Moth in which the stripe is missing the reddish-orange layer).
• Shape: Rounded wing tips, feathery antennae
• Wingspan: 11-15 cm, the largest moth in North America
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late May through July potentially
• Host plant tree/shrubs: maples, cherries, plum, birch, alder, dogwood, willow
• Activity period: nocturnal
Polyphemus Moth
Key features
• Coloration: Wings are mostly shades of brown except for the clear circular “eye spots” in the middle of each wing. A vertical line runs parallel to the margin of each wing.
• Shape: Rounded wing tips, feathery antennae
• Wingspan: 10-15 cm
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late May through July potentially
• Host plant tree/shrubs: birch, willow, maple, oak, ash
• Activity period: nocturnal
Rosy Maple
(Green-striped Mapleworm)
Key features
• Coloration: Body is dull yellow, wings are yellow/cream and pink. There can be much variation in the intensity of the pink color, from very faded to very vibrant. On the top wings, the yellow color occurs in a vertical band or “V”, bordered on both sides by pink.
• Shape: Top wings with a pointed tip, bottom wings rounded
• Wingspan: 3.4-5.2 cm
• Similar species: Pink Prominent has completely white bottom wings
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late May to late July potentially
• Host plant tree/shrubs: maples
• Activity period: nocturnal
Imperial
Key features
• Coloration: Predominant body and wing colors are yellow and brown. In the middle of each wing is a small circle. On the top wings, a line runs from the outer tip of the wing to the bottom wing margin.
• Shape: Top wings with a pointed tip, lower wings rounded
• Wingspan: 8-13 cm
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: mid-June to late August potentially
• Host plant tree/shrubs: basswood, birch, maple, oak, cedar, white pine
• Activity period: nocturnal
Io
Key features
• Coloration: Predominant body and wing color is dull yellowish to beige. Bottom wings have large black eyespots with a light center. Bottom wings also have a black and a reddish line parallel to the bottom wing margin.
• Shape: Top wings with a pointed tip, lower wings rounded
• Wingspan: 5-8 cm
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late May through July potentially
• Host plants: birch, cherries, willow, sassafras, wisteria, raspberry, clover
• Activity period: nocturnal
Pink-striped Oakworm
Key features
• Coloration: Males and females have different body size and coloration. Females are larger with pinkish beige body and wings. Top wings each have a small eyespot near the center. On the top wing, a line runs from near the wingtip to the bottom margin of the wing. The male has a dark brown body and wings. Top wings each have a small eyespot, near the edge of a large white patch.
• Shape: Top wings are pointed at the tip and distinctly larger than the bottom wings, which are rounded.
• Wingspan: 3.3-4.5 cm (females on high end of wingspan range, males on low end)
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: June
• Host plant tree: oaks
• Activity period: DIURNAL, active commonly in the morning. Their fast wingbeat means they can be mistaken for bees.
Orange-striped Oakworm
Key features
• Coloration: Males and females have different body size and coloration. Females are larger with pinkish beige body and wings. Top wings each have a small eyespot near the center. On the top wing, a line runs from near the wingtip to the bottom margin of the wing. The male has a brown body and wings. Top wings each have a small eyespot, near the edge of a large patch of lighter coloration.
• Shape: Top wings are pointed at the tip and distinctly larger than the bottom wings, which are rounded.
• Wingspan: 3-5 cm (females on high end of wingspan range, males on low end)
• Similar species: Pink-striped Oakworm
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late June to mid-July
• Host plant tree: oaks
• Activity period: DIURNAL, active commonly in the late morning. Their fast wingbeat means they can be mistaken for bees.
Columbia
Key features
• Coloration: Body and wings mainly brown. Wings have crescent-like markings in the middle with a stripe below the markings. The stripe has 2 color layers: black and white (unlike the Cecropia Moth in which the stripe also has a reddish-orange layer).
• Shape: Rounded wing tips, feathery antennae
• Wingspan: 8-10 cm
• Similar species: Cecropia Moth
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late May through June potentially
• Host plant tree/shrubs: tamarack/larch
• Activity period: nocturnal
Promethea
Key features
• Coloration: Males and females look very different. Male wings are very dark except for white/cream patterns along wing margins. Females have distinct erratic vertical line and small white/cream polygons in middle of each wing. Females look similar to Cecropia Moth.
• Shape: Rounded wing tips, feathery antennae
• Wingspan: 7.5-9.5 cm
• Similar species: Tuliptree Silkmoth looks similar to female Promethea.
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late May to mid July potentially
• Host plants: sassafras, black cherry, lilac, white ash
• Activity period: DIURNAL, mainly active around 3-6pm but females may fly at night
Tuliptree
Key features
• Coloration: Body and wings orange to brown. Middle of each wing has white marking with an irregular line below it
• Shape: Rounded wing tips, feathery antennae
• Wingspan: 8-11 cm
• Similar species: Female Promethea moth looks similar but is less likely to fly at night.
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late June to August potentially
• Host plant tree: tulip tree
• Activity period: nocturnal
Regal
Key features
• Coloration: Predominant body and wing colors are orange-red and pale yellow. Wing veins are red. Yellow wing coloration in spots/patches on a dark background.
• Shape: Top wings are pointed at the tip and distinctly larger than the bottom wings, which are rounded.
• Wingspan: 9.5-14 cm (females on large end of range)
When and where to find them
• Flight period in our area: late June to early August
• Host plant tree/shrubs: hickory, pecan, butternut, black walnut, sumac, ash
• Activity period: nocturnal
