Lepidoptera82 species

Family Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths (Saturniidae)

Saturniidae is a family in the order Lepidoptera. Browse 82 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Guides

Luna Moth Guide Rosy Maple Moth Guide Polyphemus Moth Guide

Species in Saturniidae (82)

Anisota fuscosa - Hodges#7717.1

Anisota fuscosa

Regardless of the debate surrounding the name fuscosa , the Anisota stigma -like populations from Eastern Texas are noticeably deeper brown, and according to Burke and Peigler, have larvae unlike A. stigma and much more similar to A. consularis .

Anisota manitobensis - Hodges#7717

Anisota manitobensis

Identification: Similar to Anisota stigma, but dark speckling is reduced or absent and the wings are generally a bit narrower (males) and with more contrasting pink shading (both sexes). A very rarely reported saturniid, records are very sparse and p

Oslar's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7722

Anisota oslari

Identification: Larva - last instars are brick red. See photos at Moths of Southeastern Arizona in Internet References. Has been successfully crossed with A. senatoria in the lab. See Peigler & Williams in Print References.

Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720

Anisota peigleri

Identification: Females are reddish-orange in color, have thread-like antennae, and are larger than the males. Male forewings are dark reddish brown with a small white spot and a larger light colored translucent patch. Antennae in males are plumose

Pink-striped Oakworm Moth

Anisota virginiensis

Anisota virginiensis, the pink-striped oakworm moth, is a species of silk moth of the family Saturniidae.

Western Polyphemus Moth - Hodges#7757.1

Antheraea oculea

Identification: Larva very similar to A. polyphemus . Adults are also similar to A. polyphemus , but darker and with more markings around the eye spots. "Upperside of wings is tan, sometimes with a yellowish or reddish tint. Forewing margin is the sa

Japanese Silk Moth

Antheraea yamamai

The Japanese silk moth or Japanese oak silkmoth (Antheraea yamamai, Japanese: Yamamayu(ga) (山繭(蛾)・ヤママユ(ガ)) or tensan (天蚕)) is a moth of the Saturniidae family. It is endemic to east Asia, but has been imported to Europe for Tussar silk production and

Cecrops eyed Silkmoth - Hodges#7748

Automeris cecrops

Identification: In adults, the line running from the tip of the front wing to the middle of the hind margin will separate it from A. io , which has a line or division in the pattern that is parallel to the outer margin instead, not extending from the

Automeris louisiana - Hodges#7749.1

Automeris louisiana

Identification: Male and females are browner with less maculation than Automeris io , MPG images considered by Louisiana to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN) ( 4 )

Automeris patagoniensis - Hodges#7749.2

Automeris patagoniensis

Automeris patagoniensis - Hodges#7749.2 (Automeris patagoniensis) is a species in the family Saturniidae, commonly known as giant silkworm and royal moths, belonging to the order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths). It is classified within the subfam

Sweetbay Silk Moth - Hodges#7766

Callosamia securifera

Identification: Yellowish brown with yellowish angular cell spots. Spring femles in the extreme south are often yellowish-orange. Males are darker than females and often missing hind wing cell spots. (from Butterflies and Moths of North America) Se

White-streaked Calosaturnia Moth - Hodges#7753

Calosaturnia albofasciata

males generally fly between 2pm and 4pm while females fly in early evening ( 3 )

Pine Devil Moth - Hodges#7708

Citheronia sepulcralis

Identification: Adult: body chocolate brown with long thick abdomen; forewing dull brownish-violet with small rose basal spot and obscure blackish PM line and reniform spot; hindwing rose at base; median line and discal spot blackish; faint rose outl

Lusk's Pine Moth - Hodges#7726

Coloradia luski

Identification: Adult: forewing speckled gray with black zigzag PM and ST lines that sometimes touch; reniform spot represented by a black discal dot; AM line black, jagged, with elongate projection that touches the reniform spot (a diagnostic featur

Pandora Moth - Hodges#7724

Coloradia pandora

Identification: Adult: forewing speckled gray with black zigzag PM and ST lines that sometimes touch; reniform spot represented by a black discal dot; AM line black, jagged, but does not touch reniform spot; hindwing white with diffuse dark median li

Western Sheep Moth

Hemileuca eglanterina

The sheep moth, or common sheep moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), is a member of the family Saturniidae of silk moths and is native to western North America. In California, its range is west of the Sierran crest and the mountains of Southern California,

Griffin's Sheepmoth - Hodges#7740

Hemileuca griffini

Identification: Male abdomen red tipped, otherwise black. Female abdomen red/black banded. Upperside of wings is white with narrow black markings. Host-plant and locality may also be helpful for ID, since this species has such narrow feeding habits a

Grote's Buck Moth - Hodges#7733

Hemileuca grotei

Although considered rare in the past, grotei can be locally abundant

Juno Buck Moth - Hodges#7735

Hemileuca juno

Identification: Adult: forewing black or dark gray with band of large white spots in PM area; reniform spot white or pale yellow; white basal dash near costa; hindwing black, usually with some white spots in female; abomen black, with reddish tip in

New England Buck Moth - Hodges#7732

Hemileuca lucina

Adults of this species always emerge earlier than Buck Moth ( H. maia ). Caterpillars have stinging hairs and can deliver a painful sting if handled.

Hemileuca peigleri - Hodges#7744.3

Hemileuca peigleri

Type Locality: Ebony Hill Research Station, Bexar Co., Texas

Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4

Hemileuca slosseri

considered by Oklahoma to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN) ( 4 )

Columbia Silkmoth - Hodges#7768

Hyalophora columbia

Identification: Adult: easily confused with Cecropia Moth [and vice versa ]; wings dark reddish-brown from base to PM line, dark gray in subterminal area, and pale yellowish in terminal area; AM and PM lines thick, white; pale yellow or whitish disca

Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760

Rothschildia cinctus

Cocoons are used as ankle rattles by American Indians during ceremonial dances

Rothschildia lebeau - Hodges#7761

Rothschildia lebeau

Identification: Very large silk moth found only in South Texas. Transparent triangular spots on the wings. Wings reddish brown to dark brown with olive tinge. Two other species in this genus rarely enter into s. Texas: Jorulla silkmoth ( R. jorulla )

Ailanthus Silkmoth - Hodges#7759

Samia cynthia

It is a silk producing moth. It was introduced from China in the late 1800s. There is legitimate debate as to whether there are still wild populations of this species in our area. The images here so far are from captive, hand-raised populations.

Emperor Moth

Saturnia pavonia

Wingspan 40 to 60 mm. The spectacular Emperor Moth is Britain's only resident member of the Saturniidae family. The males, which have bright orange hindwings, fly during the daytime in search of the greyer females, which fly at night. A good photogra

Giant Peacock Moth

Saturnia pyri

Saturnia pyri, the giant peacock moth, great peacock moth, giant emperor moth or Viennese emperor, is a Saturniid moth which is native to Europe. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775. It is the largest Eur

White-lined Royal Moth - Hodges#7714

Syssphinx albolineata

Identification: the younger caterpillars have the longer filaments: uncommon in the US (MPG & BG data), rare even in Mexico (Godman & Salvin, 1886)

Heiligbrodt's Mesquite Moth - Hodges#7710

Syssphinx heiligbrodti

Identification: Adult moth is paler than the very similar S. hubbardi . Most easily separated by distribution, with S. heiligbrodti found in south and central Texas, and S. hubbardi from west Texas through Arizona. The two species do overlap in the D