Biology:Hyalophora columbia

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of moth

Hyalophora columbia
Hyalophora columbia f.JPG

Apparently Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Genus: Hyalophora
Species:
H. columbia
Binomial name
Hyalophora columbia
(S. I. Smith, 1865)
Synonyms
  • Samia columbia Smith, 1865
  • Hyalophora gloveri (Strecker, 1872)
  • Platysamia gloveri Strecker, 1872
  • Platysamia gloveri var. reducta Neumoegen, 1891
  • Platysamia columbia nokomis Brodie, 1894
  • Platysamia columbia winonah Brodie, 1894

Hyalophora columbia, the Columbia silkmoth or larch silkmoth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. In the east it is found from Quebec and Ontario to Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and south-eastern Manitoba. In the west it is found from Alberta and Montana south through the Rocky Mountains to south-western Texas and into central Mexico. The species was first described by Sidney Irving Smith in 1865.

Flickr - Furryscaly - Columbia Silk Moth.jpg

The wingspan is 80–100 mm. Adults are on wing from May to July. There is one generation per year.

The larvae feed on Larix laricina in the eastern part of their range. Furthermore, it has been recorded on in Prunus pensylvanica, Alnus rugosa and Betula papyrifera in western Ontario. In the west they feed on Prunus demissa, Prunus emarginata, Purshia tridentata, Rosa, Salix, Shepherdia argentea, Eleagnus angustifolius and Ceanothus.

Subspecies

  • Phyllophorid Columbia Columbia
  • Phyllophorid Columbia glovers (Rocky Mountains) - also considered a separate species as Phyllophorid glovers

This species of moth is one of the most endangered. They are close to extinction and statistically won't live past 5 years more.

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q218952 entry