Giant silkworm moths

Imperial Moth

Giant silkworm moths
Location: Ghent, WV
July 5, 2011 10:02 pm
Is it common to find 7 or 8 different types of giant silkworm moths, in one spot. I feel like I’m being over-run this week by them. You do not have enough upload slots for all the pics! Sending a few samples.
Signature: Regards, Dwayne

Cecropia Moth

Dear Dwayne,
This could hardly be called common, however, if conditions were right, it stands to reason that multiple species would eclose simultaneously.  Perhaps you have a strong light source near a woodland that is attracting the moths.  We just returned from a trip to Northeast Ohio and that included a brief road trip to Chester West Virginia to visit the Homer Laughlin Fiestaware factory which was awesome, and the surrounding hilly woods were beautiful in June.  Seems like a prime habitat for many Giant Silkworm Moths.  We would love to post your remaining photos.  Please attach the best of each species to this response and we (and our readers) would be very appreciative.  Perhaps you should consider ecotourism for your area.

Luna Moth

WV is Ground Zero – part II
Location: Ghent, WV
July 6, 2011 9:05 am
This is in reply to your request for the best pictures.
Yes, there are 2 mercury vapor lights on the property, but most of the moths seems attracted to the house. Funny thing is you can go out about every 1/2 hour and the moth that was there has been replaced by a different one. You can do this for about 2 to 3 hours a night. Critters and insects of all types. Note – the Hickory Horned Devil is laying eggs.
Signature: Regards, Dwayne

Royal Walnut Moth laying Eggs

Hi again Dwayne,
Thanks so much for supplying us with additional images.  The Royal Walnut Moth laying eggs is a nice addition, and we just posted our first photo this year of the caterpillar of the species, the Hickory Horned Devil.  We especially love your photo of the male Io Moth who appears to be winking.

Winking Male Io Moth

The blurry photo is a member of the genus Callosamia, and they can be difficult to distinguish from one another even if the images are sharp.  Our guess is a Tulip Tree Silkmoth, though we would not rule out a Prometheus Moth.  Thanks again for supplying us with this marvelous documentation which we have featured.  We are certain there are many young insect enthusiasts out there begging their parents to take them on a summer holiday to hilly West Virginia.

Callosamia species: Tulip Tree Silkmoth or Prometheus Moth???

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Cecropia probably, but which one?
Location: South of France, Europe
July 4, 2011 5:04 pm
This afternoon in our allotment in the South of France (4 july 2011) we almost stepped on this gorgeous giant. I think that it’s possibly a member of the ”Cecropia”-family but ours seems to be yellower and has only cyan dots, no other colours. Can you tell us more?
Signature: Kristi

Great Peacock Moth Caterpillar

Hi Kristi,
We identified your caterpillar on the World’s Largest Saturniidae Site as the Great Peacock Moth, Saturnia pyri, and we are providing a link to the Saturniidae of Europe site on the species.  The range is listed as:  “Limited to the warmer areas of Europe and the Near East, from northern France (rare) south through Luxembourg, western Switzerland, the Iberian Peninsular to costal regions of Morocco and Algeria. Thence eastwards across southern Germany (rare), Austria, Hungary, the Balkans to the Ukraine. From here it extends southwards across the Caucasus Mountains and Armenia to Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Alborz and Zagros Mountains of Iran. It is also found on the Mediterranean islands of Crete, Corsica and Sardinia.”  Czechoslovakia issued a nice stamp of the moth and caterpillar in 1987.

Postage stamp from Czechoslovakia

Romania also issued a stamp depicting this lovely moth.

Postage Stamp from Romania

Dear Daniel
Thanks so much for the identification!
We’re lost in admiration for what you guys are pulling off: fantastic site, great service (also to the bugs;-)
Spend the whole evening browsing, oohh-ing and ahhh-ing and developing a guilty feeling about all the wasps I’ve send to wasp heaven (I promise, no more irrational killing)
thank you for the stamps too, they’re lovely.
keep up the good work,
many regards,
Kristi

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What bug is this?
Location: Philadelphia area
July 3, 2011 12:37 pm
Hello,
We have a large organge bug with wings and antennas on our front door. Can you help us identify it? I’ve attached a photo.
Thanks!
Signature: Melissa

Royal Walnut Moth

Hi Melissa,
This gorgeous moth is a Royal Walnut Moth or Regal Moth, and it is the adult form of the equally spectacular Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar.

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