Saturniidae
Encyclopedia
The Saturniidae, commonly known as saturniids, are among the largest and most spectacular of the moth
s. They form a family
of Lepidoptera
, with an estimated 1,300 to 1,500 described species
worldwide. The Saturniidae include such Lepidoptera as the giant silkmoths, royal moths and emperor moths.
Adults are characterized by large size, heavy bodies covered in hair-like scales, lobed wings, reduced mouthparts, and small heads. They lack a frenulum
but the hind wings overlap the forewings, producing the same effect of an unbroken wing surface. These moths are sometimes brightly colored and often have translucent eyespot
s or "windows" on their wings. Sexual dimorphism
varies by species, but males can generally be distinguished by their larger, broader antennae
. Most adults possess wingspans between 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15 cm), but some tropical species, such as the Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas), may boast quite incredible wingspans of up to 12 inches (30 cm). Together with certain Noctuidae
(chiefly Calpinae
and Catocalinae
, such as the genera Ascalapha
, Erebus
or Thysania
), the Saturniidae thus contain the largest Lepidoptera, and indeed some of the very largest insects alive today.
, though they are found all over the world. There are approximately one dozen described species living in Europe
, one of which, the Emperor Moth, occurs in the British Isles
, and 68 described species living in North America
, 42 of which reside north of Mexico and Southern California
.
and emerge the following spring. How the pupae know when to hatch early or hibernate is not yet fully understood, though research suggests that day length during the larvae's 5th instar
plays a major role. Longer days may prompt pupae to develop early, while shorter days result in pupal diapause. The number of broods is flexible, and a single female may produce both fast-developing and slow-developing individuals, or they may produce different numbers of broods in different years or parts of the range. In some species – e.g. the Luna Moth (Actias luna) or Callosamia securifera (both Saturniinae
) –, spring and summer broods look different, with different genes activated by environmental conditions.
Eggs
Depending on the moth, a single female may lay up to 200 eggs on a chosen host
plant. Others lay singly or in small groups. They are round, slightly flattened, smooth and translucent or whitish.
Larvae
Saturniid caterpillar
s are large (50 to 100 mm in the final instar), stout and cylindrical. Most have tubercules that are often also spiny or hairy. Many are cryptic in coloration, with countershading or disruptive coloration to reduce detection, but some are more colourful. Some have stinging hairs. A few species have been noted to produce clicking sounds with the larval mandibles when disturbed (e.g. Saturniini like Actias luna and Polyphemus Moth, Antheraea polyphemus). It has been hypothesized that the clicks serve as aposematic
warning signals to a regurgitation defense. Most are solitary feeders, but some are gregarious. The Hemileucinae
are gregarious when young and have stinging hairs, those of Lonomia
containing a poison which may kill a human.
The other caterpillars in this size range are almost universally Sphingidae
, which are seldom hairy and tend to have diagonal stripes on their sides. Many Sphingidae caterpillars bear a single curved horn on their hind end. These are actually not dangerous, while large haired caterpillars should generally not be touched except by experts.
Most saturniid larvae feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs. A few, particularly Hemileucinae such as Automeris louisiana, A. patagonensis and Hemileuca oliviae, feed on grasses. They moult
at regular intervals, usually four to six times before entering the pupal stage. Prior to pupation there is a wandering stage, and the caterpillar may change colour, becoming more cryptic just before this stage.
Pupae
Most larvae spin a silken cocoon in the leaves of a preferred host
plant or in leaf litter on the ground, or crevices in rocks and logs. While only moderately close relatives to the silkworm (Bombyx mori
) among the Lepidoptera, the cocoons of most larger saturniids can be gathered and used to make silk
fabric. However, larvae of some species – typically Ceratocampinae
, like the Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis) and the Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) – burrow and pupate in a small chamber beneath the soil. This is common in the Ceratocampinae
and Hemileucinae. Unlike most silk moths, those that pupate underground do not use much silk in the construction. Once enclosed in the cocoon, pupae undergo metamorphosis.
Adults
Adult females emerge with a complete set of mature ova and "call" males by emitting pheromones (specific "calling" times vary by species). Males can detect these chemical signals up to a mile away with help from sensitive receptors located on the tips of their featherlike antennae
. The males will fly several miles in one night to locate a female and mate with her; females generally will not fly until after they have mated.
Since the mouthparts of adult saturniids are vestigial and digestive tracts are absent, adults subsist on stored lipids
acquired during the larva
l stage. As such, adult behavior is devoted almost entirely to reproduction, but the end result (due to lack of feeding) is a lifespan of a week or less once emerged from the pupa.
s, the Pandora Pinemoth
(Coloradia pandora) on pine
s and Hemileuca oliviae on range grass
es.
Other species are of major commercial importance in tussah and wild silk
production. These notably include the Chinese Tussah Moth (Antheraea pernyi), its hybridogenic descendant Antheraea × proylei, and the Ailanthus Silkmoth (Samia cynthia).
Caterpillars of the genus Lonomia
produce possibly the most deadly toxin
of any known animal.
Most Saturniidae are harmless animals at least as adults, and in many cases at all stages of their life. Thus, some of the more spectacular species – in particular Antheraea
– can be raised by children or school classes as educational pets. The soft, silken cocoons make an interesting keepsake for pupils.
. Only the very "modern" Saturniidae are widely distributed across most parts of the world. Thus, it is quite safe to assume – even in the absence of a comprehensive fossil record – that the first Saturniidae flew around in the neotropical region.
The following list arranges the subfamilies in the presumed phylogenetic sequence, from the most ancient to the most advanced one. Some notable genera and species are also included.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s. They form a family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
, with an estimated 1,300 to 1,500 described species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
worldwide. The Saturniidae include such Lepidoptera as the giant silkmoths, royal moths and emperor moths.
Adults are characterized by large size, heavy bodies covered in hair-like scales, lobed wings, reduced mouthparts, and small heads. They lack a frenulum
Frenulum
A frenulum is a small fold of tissue that secures or restricts the motion of a mobile organ in the body.-In human anatomy:...
but the hind wings overlap the forewings, producing the same effect of an unbroken wing surface. These moths are sometimes brightly colored and often have translucent eyespot
Eyespot (mimicry)
An eyespot is an eye-like marking. They are found on butterflies, reptiles, birds and fish. In members of the Felidae family , the white circular markings on the backs of the ears are termed ocelli, and they are functionally similar to eyespots in other animals.Eyespots may be a form of...
s or "windows" on their wings. Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
varies by species, but males can generally be distinguished by their larger, broader antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
. Most adults possess wingspans between 1 to 6 inches (2.5 to 15 cm), but some tropical species, such as the Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas), may boast quite incredible wingspans of up to 12 inches (30 cm). Together with certain Noctuidae
Noctuidae
The Noctuidae or owlet moths are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species out of possibly 100,000 total, in more than 4,200 genera. They constitute the largest family in the Lepidoptera....
(chiefly Calpinae
Calpinae
Calpinae is a subfamily of moth family Noctuidae. It is closely related to the Catocalinae; both subfamilies contain large species with wingspans larger than 5 centimetres ....
and Catocalinae
Catocalinae
Catocalinae is a subfamily of moth family Erebidae . Many of the species are large compared to other noctuids in temperate zones, and have brightly colored backwings....
, such as the genera Ascalapha
Ascalapha
Ascalapha is a genus of moths of the Noctuidae family.-References:* *...
, Erebus
Erebus (moth)
Erebus is a genus of moth of the family Noctuidae.-Species:* Erebus acrotaenia * Erebus acuta * Erebus aerosa * Erebus albiangulata Erebus is a genus of moth of the family Noctuidae.-Species:* Erebus acrotaenia (Felder, 1861)* Erebus acuta (Fawcett, 1917)* Erebus aerosa (Swinhoe, 1900)* Erebus...
or Thysania
Thysania
Thysania is a genus of moths of the Noctuidae family.-Species:* Thysania agrippina Cramer, [1776] – White Witch Moth, Ghost Moth* Thysania pomponia Jordan, 1924* Thysania zenobia Cramer, [1777] – Owl Moth-References:* *...
), the Saturniidae thus contain the largest Lepidoptera, and indeed some of the very largest insects alive today.
Distribution
The majority of saturniid species occur in wooded tropical or subtropical regions, with the greatest diversity in the New World Tropics and MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, though they are found all over the world. There are approximately one dozen described species living in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, one of which, the Emperor Moth, occurs in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, and 68 described species living in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, 42 of which reside north of Mexico and Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
Life cycle
Some saturniids produce more than one brood a year. Spring and summer broods hatch in a matter of weeks; autumn broods enter a state known as diapauseBiostasis
Biostasis is the ability of an organism to tolerate environmental changes without having to actively adapt to them. The word is also used as a synonym for cryostasis or cryonics. It is found in organisms that live in habitats that may encounter unfavourable living conditions...
and emerge the following spring. How the pupae know when to hatch early or hibernate is not yet fully understood, though research suggests that day length during the larvae's 5th instar
Instar
An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...
plays a major role. Longer days may prompt pupae to develop early, while shorter days result in pupal diapause. The number of broods is flexible, and a single female may produce both fast-developing and slow-developing individuals, or they may produce different numbers of broods in different years or parts of the range. In some species – e.g. the Luna Moth (Actias luna) or Callosamia securifera (both Saturniinae
Saturniinae
The Saturniinae or saturniines are a subfamily of the Family Saturniidae. These are medium to very large-sized moths, with adult wingspans ranging from 7.5 to 15 cm, in some cases even more....
) –, spring and summer broods look different, with different genes activated by environmental conditions.
Eggs
Depending on the moth, a single female may lay up to 200 eggs on a chosen host
Host (biology)
In biology, a host is an organism that harbors a parasite, or a mutual or commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment and shelter. In botany, a host plant is one that supplies food resources and substrate for certain insects or other fauna...
plant. Others lay singly or in small groups. They are round, slightly flattened, smooth and translucent or whitish.
Larvae
Saturniid caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s are large (50 to 100 mm in the final instar), stout and cylindrical. Most have tubercules that are often also spiny or hairy. Many are cryptic in coloration, with countershading or disruptive coloration to reduce detection, but some are more colourful. Some have stinging hairs. A few species have been noted to produce clicking sounds with the larval mandibles when disturbed (e.g. Saturniini like Actias luna and Polyphemus Moth, Antheraea polyphemus). It has been hypothesized that the clicks serve as aposematic
Aposematism
Aposematism , perhaps most commonly known in the context of warning colouration, describes a family of antipredator adaptations where a warning signal is associated with the unprofitability of a prey item to potential predators...
warning signals to a regurgitation defense. Most are solitary feeders, but some are gregarious. The Hemileucinae
Hemileucinae
Hemileucinae is a subfamily of the family Saturniidae.This subfamily contains the following genera:*Adetmoeris Michener, 1949*Ancistrota Hübner, 1819*Automerella Michener, 1949*Automerina Michener, 1949*Automeris Hübner, 1819...
are gregarious when young and have stinging hairs, those of Lonomia
Lonomia
The genus Lonomia is a moderate-sized group of fairly cryptic saturniid moths from South America, famous not for the adults, but for their highly venomous caterpillars, which are responsible for a few deaths each year , especially in southern Brazil, and the subject of hundreds of published medical...
containing a poison which may kill a human.
The other caterpillars in this size range are almost universally Sphingidae
Sphingidae
Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...
, which are seldom hairy and tend to have diagonal stripes on their sides. Many Sphingidae caterpillars bear a single curved horn on their hind end. These are actually not dangerous, while large haired caterpillars should generally not be touched except by experts.
Most saturniid larvae feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs. A few, particularly Hemileucinae such as Automeris louisiana, A. patagonensis and Hemileuca oliviae, feed on grasses. They moult
Ecdysis
Ecdysis is the moulting of the cuticula in many invertebrates. This process of moulting is the defining feature of the clade Ecdysozoa, comprising the arthropods, nematodes, velvet worms, horsehair worms, rotifers, tardigrades and Cephalorhyncha...
at regular intervals, usually four to six times before entering the pupal stage. Prior to pupation there is a wandering stage, and the caterpillar may change colour, becoming more cryptic just before this stage.
Most larvae spin a silken cocoon in the leaves of a preferred host
Host (biology)
In biology, a host is an organism that harbors a parasite, or a mutual or commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment and shelter. In botany, a host plant is one that supplies food resources and substrate for certain insects or other fauna...
plant or in leaf litter on the ground, or crevices in rocks and logs. While only moderately close relatives to the silkworm (Bombyx mori
Bombyx mori
The silkworm is the larva or caterpillar of the domesticated silkmoth, Bombyx mori . It is an economically important insect, being a primary producer of silk...
) among the Lepidoptera, the cocoons of most larger saturniids can be gathered and used to make silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
fabric. However, larvae of some species – typically Ceratocampinae
Ceratocampinae
Ceratocampinae is a subfamily of the family Saturniidae.This subfamily contains the following genera:*Adelocephala Herrich-Schäffer, 1854*Adeloneivaia Travassos, 1940*Adelowalkeria Travassos, 1941*Almeidella Oiticica, 1946...
, like the Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis) and the Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) – burrow and pupate in a small chamber beneath the soil. This is common in the Ceratocampinae
Ceratocampinae
Ceratocampinae is a subfamily of the family Saturniidae.This subfamily contains the following genera:*Adelocephala Herrich-Schäffer, 1854*Adeloneivaia Travassos, 1940*Adelowalkeria Travassos, 1941*Almeidella Oiticica, 1946...
and Hemileucinae. Unlike most silk moths, those that pupate underground do not use much silk in the construction. Once enclosed in the cocoon, pupae undergo metamorphosis.
Adults
Adult females emerge with a complete set of mature ova and "call" males by emitting pheromones (specific "calling" times vary by species). Males can detect these chemical signals up to a mile away with help from sensitive receptors located on the tips of their featherlike antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
. The males will fly several miles in one night to locate a female and mate with her; females generally will not fly until after they have mated.
Since the mouthparts of adult saturniids are vestigial and digestive tracts are absent, adults subsist on stored lipids
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
acquired during the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
l stage. As such, adult behavior is devoted almost entirely to reproduction, but the end result (due to lack of feeding) is a lifespan of a week or less once emerged from the pupa.
Importance to humans
A few species are important defoliator pests, including the Orange-striped Oakworm Moth (Anisota senatoria) on oakOak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s, the Pandora Pinemoth
Pandora Pinemoth
The Pandora Pinemoth or Pandora Moth, Coloradia pandora, is an insect belonging to the Coloradia genus of moths. It is native to the western United States. The larvae of the Pandora Moth feed on the foliage of several species of pine trees, including the lodgepole, Jeffrey, and ponderosa pines...
(Coloradia pandora) on pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
s and Hemileuca oliviae on range grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es.
Other species are of major commercial importance in tussah and wild silk
Wild silk
Wild silks have been known and used in many countries from early times, although the scale of production is far smaller than that from cultivated silkworms.-Background:...
production. These notably include the Chinese Tussah Moth (Antheraea pernyi), its hybridogenic descendant Antheraea × proylei, and the Ailanthus Silkmoth (Samia cynthia).
Caterpillars of the genus Lonomia
Lonomia
The genus Lonomia is a moderate-sized group of fairly cryptic saturniid moths from South America, famous not for the adults, but for their highly venomous caterpillars, which are responsible for a few deaths each year , especially in southern Brazil, and the subject of hundreds of published medical...
produce possibly the most deadly toxin
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
of any known animal.
Most Saturniidae are harmless animals at least as adults, and in many cases at all stages of their life. Thus, some of the more spectacular species – in particular Antheraea
Antheraea
Antheraea is a moth genus belonging to the family Saturniidae. Several species of this genus have caterpillars which produce wild silk of commercial importance...
– can be raised by children or school classes as educational pets. The soft, silken cocoons make an interesting keepsake for pupils.
Systematics and evolution
In terms of absolute numbers of species, the Saturniidae most diverse in the Neotropics. Also, their most ancient subfamilies occur only in the AmericasAmericas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. Only the very "modern" Saturniidae are widely distributed across most parts of the world. Thus, it is quite safe to assume – even in the absence of a comprehensive fossil record – that the first Saturniidae flew around in the neotropical region.
The following list arranges the subfamilies in the presumed phylogenetic sequence, from the most ancient to the most advanced one. Some notable genera and species are also included.
- Subfamily OxyteninaeOxyteninaeOxyteninae is a subfamily of the family Saturniidae. Its members are mostly from central and south America.-Genera:This subfamily contains the following genera:*Asthenidia*Draconipteris*Eusyssaura*Homoeopteryx*Lycabis*Oxytenis...
(3 genera, 35 species)- OxytenisOxytenisOxytenis is a genus of moth in the family Saturniidae and subfamily Oxyteninae. During its larval form, it has large eyespots on the front of its head in an attempt to mimic a snake. The larva has unusual, large, almost wing-like, fleshy protrusions on either side.-Species:*O. albilunulata...
- Oxytenis
- Subfamily Cercophaninae (4 genera, 10 species)
- Subfamily ArsenurinaeArsenurinaeArsenurinae is a subfamily of the family Saturniidae.This subfamily contains the following genera:*Almeidaia Travassos, 1937*Arsenura Duncan [& Westwood], 1841*Caio Travassos & Noronha, 1968*Copiopteryx Duncan [& Westwood], 1841...
(10 genera, 60 species, Neotropics)- Paradaemonia Bouvier, 1925
- Subfamily CeratocampinaeCeratocampinaeCeratocampinae is a subfamily of the family Saturniidae.This subfamily contains the following genera:*Adelocephala Herrich-Schäffer, 1854*Adeloneivaia Travassos, 1940*Adelowalkeria Travassos, 1941*Almeidella Oiticica, 1946...
(27 genera, 170 species, Americas)- Adeloneivaia
- AnisotaAnisotaAnisota is a genus of moths in the Saturniidae family.-Species:* Anisota assimilis * Anisota consularis Dryar, 1896* Anisota dissimilis * Anisota finlaysoni Riotte, 1969...
-
-
- Anisota senatoriaAnisota senatoriaThe Orangestriped oakworm is a Nearctic member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. It is one of the more common Saturniids, reaching pest status occasionally in the northern parts of its range...
– Orange-striped Oakworm Moth
- Anisota senatoria
- Citheronia
- Citheronia aztecaCitheronia aztecaCitheronia azteca is a moth of the family Saturniidae that lives in Guatemala, Belize and Mexico....
- Citheronia lobesisCitheronia lobesisCitheronia lobesis is a moth of the Family Saturniidae. This moth has light orange bottom wings and darker orange topper wings with spots on it. Also, the body of it is orange and has black stripes....
- Citheronia regalisCitheronia regalisThe regal moth , also called the royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the saturniidae family. The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils...
– Regal Moth - Citheronia sepulcralisCitheronia sepulcralisThe Pine-devil Moth is a Nearctic member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae.-Pupa:As with most of this subfamily, when the caterpillars are ready to pupate, they burrow underground.-Adult:...
– Pine-devil Moth
- Citheronia azteca
-
-
- Dryocampa
- Dryocampa rubicundaDryocampa rubicundaThe Rosy Maple Moth is a North American moth in the Saturniidae family. Males have a wingspan of 32–44 mm; females of 40–50 mm. They have reddish-to-pink legs and antennae, yellow bodies and hindwings, and pink forewings with a triangular yellow band across the middle. Males have bushier...
– Rosy Maple Moth
- Dryocampa rubicunda
- Eacles
- Eacles imperialisEacles imperialisThe Imperial Moth is a Nearctic member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae.-Range:Imperial moths range from Mexico to Canada and from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast...
– Imperial Moth
- Eacles imperialis
- Sphingicampa
- Syssphinx
- Dryocampa
- Subfamily HemileucinaeHemileucinaeHemileucinae is a subfamily of the family Saturniidae.This subfamily contains the following genera:*Adetmoeris Michener, 1949*Ancistrota Hübner, 1819*Automerella Michener, 1949*Automerina Michener, 1949*Automeris Hübner, 1819...
(51 genera, 630 species, Americas)- AutomerisAutomerisAutomeris is a genus of moths in the Saturniidae family, Hemileucinae subfamily.-List of species:-Adult description:This genus includes very colorful species usually with big eyespots and sexually dimorphic....
- Automeris ioAutomeris ioThe Io Moth is a very colorful North American moth in the Saturniidae family. It ranges from the southeast corner of Manitoba and in the southern extremes of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick in Canada, and in the US it is found from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New...
– Io Moth
- Automeris io
- Automeris
-
- ColoradiaColoradiaColoradia is a genus of moths of the family Saturniidae. There are nine described species found in Mexico and eastern North America.These are generally large moths, predominantly grey in colour. The larvae usually feed on pines and members of the genus are commonly called pinemoths, although...
- Hemileuca
- Hemileuca nevadensisHemileuca nevadensisThe Nevada Buck Moth is a species in the Saturniidae family.-Description:The female tends to be larger than the male, while males have black abdomens with red tips. The upperside of the wing is creamy white with black edges, each wing has "eyes" or black dots.-Distribution:They range from the west...
– Nevada Buck Moth - Hemileuca maia – Buck MothBuck MothThe Buck Moth is a common insect found in oak forests stretching from the south east to the north east and as far west as Texas and Kansas . The larvae typically emerge in a single generation in the spring. The larvae are covered in hollow spines that are attached to a poison sac...
- Hemileuca nevadensis
- LonomiaLonomiaThe genus Lonomia is a moderate-sized group of fairly cryptic saturniid moths from South America, famous not for the adults, but for their highly venomous caterpillars, which are responsible for a few deaths each year , especially in southern Brazil, and the subject of hundreds of published medical...
- Ormiscodes
- Coloradia
- Subfamily Agliinae (1 genus, 3 species)
- Aglia
- Aglia tauAglia tauThe Tau Emperor is a moth of the family Saturniidae. It is found in Europe.The wingspan is 60-84 mm. The moth flies in one generation from March to July depending on the location....
– Tau Emperor
- Aglia tau
- Aglia
- Subfamily Ludiinae (disputed) (8 genera, Africa)
- Subfamily Salassinae (1 genus, 12 species, Tropics)
- Salassa
- Subfamily SaturniinaeSaturniinaeThe Saturniinae or saturniines are a subfamily of the Family Saturniidae. These are medium to very large-sized moths, with adult wingspans ranging from 7.5 to 15 cm, in some cases even more....
(59 genera, 480 species, tropical and temperate regions worldwide)
Further reading
(2001). Smithsonian: Animal (1st American ed.). DK Publishing Inc., 375 Hudson St. New York, NY 10014. (2002). Butterflies and Moths: A Golden Guide From St. Martin's Press. St. Martin's Press, New York. (2006): The Saturniidae Fauna of Napo Province, Ecuador: An Overview (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología 34(134): 125-139. PDF fulltext (inventory of about 200 Saturniidae taxa)- Lampe, Rudolf E. J. (2010) Saturniidae of the World – Pfauenspinner der WeltTheir Life Stages from the Eggs to the Adults -Ihre Entwicklungsstadien vom Ei zum Falter [English and German] ISBN 978-3-89937-084-3
External links
- Moths of North America: Saturniidae
- Bombycoidea of Canada
- Family Classification of Lepidoptera
- University of Kentucky Entomology: Saturniid Moths
- Moths (Saturniidae) of the United States
- Saturniidae pictures
- How to rear saturniid moths
- Saturniidae of Europe
- Saturnia-Homepage
- Saturniidae-web.de
- Kirby Wolfe images