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Post by mothman27 on Mar 25, 2020 9:57:39 GMT
Here is a genus of Saturniidae native to North America only. There are typically four species/ssp. recognized but it seems there is some taxonomic debate whether they are all distinct species.
Top Right: Hyalophora columbia, the smallest of the genus this species inhabits northern regions of the USA and some of Canada. Bottom Right: Hyalophora cecropia, famous for holding the title of largest wingspan of any insect in North America. Native the eastern USA. Top Left: Hyalophora columbia gloveri, sometimes considered to be a distinct species. Native to basically the part of the USA where H. cecropia is not found. It is considered to have evolved from H. columbia X H. euryalus. Bottom Left: Hyalophora euryalus, aka. kasloensis. Pretty much inhabits the west coast of the USA up into Canada.
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Post by trehopr1 on Mar 25, 2020 19:20:24 GMT
Tim, below are two generalized distribution maps of the four species. Hyalophora euryalus is known by the common name: Ceanothus Silk Moth as the species prefers buckbush (Ceanothus) leaves. All four species have larvae with subtle differences in appearance and of coarse the two Western species have some different food preferences. I have always found the antennae of the (males) of H.gloveri and H.euryalus to be extraordinarily longer and more plumose than that of H.cecropia (males). I cannot comment on H.columbia as I have never seen a specimen. However, your specimen does seem to exhibit those same quite (longer) antennae ! A curious topic ! Thanks for bringing it up...
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