LARVAL FOODPLANTS OF SATURNIID MOTHS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES

Raising Lepidoptera has been a hobby that I have enjoyed ever since I was a kid. Though raising butterflies has always been fun, it is raising the giant silkmoths, family Saturniidae, that has been my favorite aspect of rearing. Thankfully I live in an area that includes a great representation of these amazing moths, even though their wild populations do seem to be dwindling with each passing year. What I present to you is a list of the most commonly used caterpillar foodplants for these moths representing nine species. This list is in no way meant to be complete and only through experimentation can new plants be added to this ever-growing list.

So, if you have never raised Saturniid larvae before, or even if you are a seasoned veteran, this list will hopefully be helpful in guaranteeing your success! Good luck and have fun!

THE LUNA MOTH – Actias luna

Aspen (Populus), Bayberry (Myrica), Beech (Fagus), Birch (Betula), Butternut (Juglans), Chestnut (Castanaea), Hickory (Carya), Hops (Humulus), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Maple (Acer), Oak (Quercus), Pecan (Carya), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron), Walnut (Juglans).

THE POLYPHEMUS MOTH – Antheraea polyphemus

Alder (Alnus), Apple (Malus), Aspen (Populus), Bayberry (Myrica), Beech (Fagus), Birch (Betula), Butternut (Juglans), Chestnut (Castanaea), Chokecherry (Prunus), Dogwood (Cornus), Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hazelnut (Corylus), Hickory (Carya), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Maple (Acer), Oak (Quercus), Pear (Pyrus), Sassafras (Sassafras), Sycamore (Platanus), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron), Walnut (Juglans), Wild Cherry (Prunus), Willow (Salix).

THE IO MOTH – Automeris io

Alder (Alnus), Apple (Malus), Ash (Fraxinus), Bayberry (Myrica), Beech (Fagus), Chokecherry (Prunus), Dogwood (Cornus), Honey Locust (Gleditsia), Hops (Humulus), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Maple (Acer), Oak (Quercus), Pear (Pyrus), Poplar (Populus), Sassafras (Sassafras), Sweetbay (Laurus), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron), Wild Cherry (Prunus), Willow (Salix).

THE PROMETHEA MOTH – Callosamia promethea

Apple (Malus), Ash (Fraxinus), Barberry (Berberis), Basswood (Tilia), Bayberry (Myrica), Beech (Fagus), Birch (Betula), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Cherry (Prunus), Chokecherry (Prunus), Laurel (Laurus), Maple (Acer), Pear (Pyrus), Persimmon (Diospyros), Poplar (Populus), Privet (Ligustrum), Sassafras (Sassafras), Spicebush (Lindera), Sweetbay (Laurus), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron), Wild Cherry (Prunus), Willow (Salix).

THE REGAL MOTH – Citheronia regalis

Ash (Fraxinus), Butternut (Juglans), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus), Hazel (Corylus), Hickory (Carya), Oak (Quercus), Pecan (Carya), Persimmon (Diospyros), Privet (Ligustrum), Sassafras (Sassafras), Sumac (Rhus), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Walnut (Juglans), Wild Cherry (Prunus), Willow (Salix).

THE PINE DEVIL MOTH – Citheronia sepulcralis

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus), Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida), Sand Pine (Pinus clausa), Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Slash Pine (Pinus carbaea), Southern Pine (Pinus taeda).

THE IMPERIAL MOTH – Eacles imperialis

Alder (Alnus), Basswood (Tilia), Beech (Fagus), Birch (Betula), Box Elder (Acer), Butternut (Juglans), Chestnut (Castanea), Chokecherry (Prunus), Cypress (Taxodium), Elderberry (Sambucus), Elm (Ulmus), Fir (Abies), Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hickory (Carya), Honeylocust (Robinia), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Larch (Larix), Maple (Acer), Oak (Quercus), Persimmon (Diospyros), Pine (Pinus), Privet (Ligustrum), Sassafras (Sassafras), Spicebush (Lindera), Sumac (Rhus), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Wild Cherry (Prunus), Willow (Salix).

THE CECROPIA MOTH – Hyalophora cecropia

Alder (Alnus), Apple (Malus), Aspen (Populus), Barberry (Berberis), Basswood (Tilia), Bayberry (Myrica), Beech (Fagus), Birch (Betula), Chokecherry (Prunus), Dogwood (Cornus), Elderberry (Sambucus), Elm (Ulmus), Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hazelnut (Corylus), Honeylocust (Robinia), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Lilac (Syringa), Maple (Acer), Mountain Ash (Pyrus) , Oak (Quercus), Pear (Pyrus), Pecan (Carya), Pin Cherry (Prunus), Plum (Prunus), Poplar (Populus), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sycamore (Platanus), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), Walnut (Juglans), Wild Cherry (Prunus), Willow (Salix).

THE CYNTHIA MOTH – Samia cynthia

Apple (Pyrus), Ash (Fraxinus), Barberry (Berberis), Basswood (Tilia), Butternut (Juglans), Dogwood (Cornus), Evodia (Evodia), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Lilac (Syringa), Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum), Privet (Ligustrum), Sassafras (Sassafras), Spicebush (Lindera), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Sumac (Rhus), Sycamore (Platanus), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), Walnut (Juglans), Wild Cherry (Prunus), Willow (Salix).

~David Albaugh