Callosamia promethea

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Promethea silkmoth
Callosamia promethea 0385.jpg
Female
Male Promethea Moth, Megan McCarty79.jpg
Male
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Genus: Callosamia
Species:
C. promethea
Binomial name
Callosamia promethea
(Drury, 1773)

Callosamia promethea, commonly known as the promethea silkmoth, is a member of the family Saturniidae, which contains approximately 1,300 species. [2] It is also known as the spicebush silkmoth, which refers to one of the promethea silkmoth's common host plants, spicebush (Lindera benzoin). [3] [4] C. promethea is classified as a silk moth, which stems from its ability to produce silk, which it does in the formation of its cocoon. [5] C. promethea lives in forests in the eastern U.S. and does not damage the trees on which it lives. [5] [6] [7] The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.

Contents

Callosamia promethea hatches from eggs and feeds on its host plants before pupating while hanging from trees during the winter. [3] [8] [6] It then emerges and mates during a specific time of day. [9] [8] The females utilize pheromones to attract males for mating, with both sexes mating multiple times. [4] [8] They are the only moth in their family where the sexes are not active at the same time of day, with males being diurnal and females being nocturnal. [4] They only overlap in activity for a few hours in the early evening. [8] [9] The males use mimicry of the poisonous pipevine swallowtail butterfly as a form of protection from predators. [8]

Distribution and habitat

The range of C. promethea extends the length of the east coast of the United States and west to the Great Plains. [5] C. promethea is found in deciduous forests. [6]

Food resources

Caterpillar

Callosamia promethea utilizes multiple plant families as their hosts, including Rosaceae, Oleaceae and Lauraceae. There is no negative effect to C. promethea larvae being raised on a host plant different from the one that their parents were raised on, for the specific host plants tested in the study. The nutritional content of the individual host plant matters more to the health of the larvae than feeding on a population's typical host plant. [10] Some examples of common host plants are the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), sassafras (Sassafrass albidum) and spicebush (Lindera benzoin). [6]

Adult

Callosamia promethea does not consume any food in its adult stage. [6]

Callosamia promethea larva Callosamia promethea larva.jpg
Callosamia promethea larva

Life cycle

Egg

Eggs and first-instar larvae Callosamia promethea eggs and 1st instar.jpg
Eggs and first-instar larvae

Female promethea silkmoths lay their eggs on the leaves of the host plants of the caterpillars. The eggs are laid at night. [6] A female's eggs are laid in groups of 4 to 10 at a time. [4] [6] Eggs are white, flat and elliptical. [3]

Caterpillar

Once the caterpillars hatch, they are fairly solitary. They eat leaves from the edge inwards. [3] The caterpillars eat from several host plants. [6] Caterpillars begin as yellow with black stripes, but become blue green over time. Once they are blue green, they develop four red and one yellow protuberances. These caterpillars go through several instars or skin shedding, and usually after the fifth shedding the caterpillar is ready to form a cocoon. [11] When the caterpillars form cocoons, they are twice as long as they are wide. [12]

Pupa

Some caterpillars in the family Saturniidae will pupate in the ground. [2] However, promethea silkmoth caterpillars pupate in trees. The caterpillars attach themselves directly to the branches of trees with their silk. Then, they curl a dead leaf around themselves. C. promethea pupates during the winter. [9]

Adult

The wingspan of this moth is 3 to 4 inches (76 to 102 mm). Like most Lepidoptera, females are on average larger than males. Males are darkly pigmented, while females are more brightly colored. [3] The males and females both have tan on the edges of their wings. The males have a set of eyespots on their forewings, but the females have spots on all their wings. In the northern part of the promethea silkmoth's range, there is one brood per year and it occurs during the early summer. In the southern part of the moth's range, there are two broods, with one occurring in the spring and the other occurring in late summer. [6]

Predators

The location of the C. promethea cocoon typically provides the pupae with sufficient protection from possible predators. The cocoons hang from thin branches and are difficult to open, so mice may have difficulty predating because the branches are too thin to hold their weight and woodpeckers could have trouble opening the pupa. [2] Other predators of the cocoons include some flies and wasps. [3]

Protective coloration and behavior

Mimicry

Callosamia promethea utilizes Batesian mimicry, in which an edible species mimics a toxic species as a form of protection from predators. [13] Promethea silkmoth females are rust and cream colored, but the males have very different coloration. Promethea silkmoth males mimic the pipe vine swallowtail (Battus philenor), a poisonous butterfly. The topside of the wings of promethea silkmoth males is black, as are the wings of the pipe vine swallowtails, which also have a shiny blue pattern on the top surface of their wings. The promethea silkmoth males do not have this reflective blue pattern, but their mimicry is still effective due to the fact that the blue reflective pattern is only visible on pipe vine swallowtails in a certain light, so the blue is not essential for C. promethea's mimicry to be effective. [8]

The effectiveness of this mimicry was tested experimentally. Promethea silkmoth males were painted with various patterns, then released, and the amount of each group that was recaptured showed that mimicry helped the moths survive. The control group was painted black, to match their actual coloration. One experimental group was painted black and yellow to mimic the tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), which is not a poisonous butterfly and does not mimic the poisonous pipe vine swallowtail. The other experimental group was painted with orange stripes to mimic the poisonous monarch butterfly. The two groups that were painted to be mimetic to a poisonous butterfly both were recaptured more than the group painted to match an edible butterfly. This shows that mimicry, specifically the partial mimic of promethea silkmoth males to pipe vine swallowtails, is adequate protection against predation. [8]

Mating

Female/male interactions

Pheromones

Female promethea silkmoths release pheromones to attract males. The females remain in place, camouflaged, as they wait for the males to sense their pheromones and come to them. [8] Females release their pheromones at a specific time of day called the "calling time". For C. promethea this time is late afternoon and into the early evening. [9] When males sense the pheromones of a female they travel up the gradient of the pheromones and towards the female. Males are able locate females from miles away. One C. promethea male has been found to be able to detect and find a female from 23 miles away. A distance this long is likely to be covered in multiple days. [8]

Mate choice

In terms of locating mates, males cannot find females unless they release pheromones, so the females control how frequently they mate. When females do send out their pheromones, the first male to reach a female will mate with her. [4]

Number of mates

Callosamia promethea are polyandrous, meaning the females mate with multiple males. However, not all females practice this behavior, some only mating with a single male. They are the only moth in the family Saturniidae known to be polyandrous. This is likely because C. promethea is the only moth that is both diurnal (males) and nocturnal (females). This allows for egg laying and mating to occur at different times of day, so there is no trade off between the two activities. Male butterflies are polygamous, as well. Polyandrous females are more fecund, due to laying more eggs. A female's eggs are mostly mature when they are laid. [4]

Conservation

Callosamia promethea is not endangered and there are no specific management practices in place to maintain or control the species. [6]

Pest status

While these moths do live on many species of trees as a caterpillar they are not reported to cause any noticeable damage to their host trees. [7]

Related Research Articles

A common classification of the Lepidoptera involves their differentiation into butterflies and moths. Butterflies are a natural monophyletic group, often given the suborder Rhopalocera, which includes Papilionoidea, Hesperiidae (skippers), and Hedylidae. In this taxonomic scheme, moths belong to the suborder Heterocera. Other taxonomic schemes have been proposed, the most common putting the butterflies into the suborder Ditrysia and then the "superfamily" Papilionoidea and ignoring a classification for moths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luna moth</span> Species of insect

The luna moth, also called the American moon moth, is a Nearctic moth in the family Saturniidae, subfamily Saturniinae, a group commonly named the giant silk moths.

<i>Attacus atlas</i> Species of moth

Attacus atlas, the Atlas moth, is a large saturniid moth endemic to the forests of Asia. The species was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

<i>Papilio glaucus</i> Species of insect

Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada, and is common in many different habitats. It flies from spring until fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae. P. glaucus has a wingspan measuring 7.9 to 14 cm. The male is yellow with four black "tiger stripes" on each forewing. Females may be either yellow or black, making them dimorphic. The yellow morph is similar to the male, but with a conspicuous band of blue spots along the hindwing, while the dark morph is almost completely black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swallowtail butterfly</span> Butterflies of family Papilionidae

Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of the genus Ornithoptera.

<i>Papilio polyxenes</i> Species of insect

Papilio polyxenes, the (eastern) black swallowtail, American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail, is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio joanae, occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to Papilio machaon, rather than P. polyxenes. The species is named after the figure in Greek mythology, Polyxena, who was the youngest daughter of King Priam of Troy. Its caterpillar is called the parsley worm because the caterpillar feeds on parsley.

<i>Papilio troilus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio troilus, the spicebush swallowtail or green-clouded butterfly, is a common black swallowtail butterfly found in North America. It has two subspecies, Papilio troilus troilus and Papilio troilus ilioneus, the latter found mainly in the Florida peninsula. The spicebush swallowtail derives its name from its most common host plant, the spicebush, members of the genus Lindera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturniidae</span> Family of moths

Saturniidae, members of which are commonly named the saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor moths, royal moths, and giant silk moths.

<i>Lindera benzoin</i> Species of shrub

Lindera benzoin is a shrub in the laurel family. It is native to eastern North America, ranging from Maine and New York to Ontario in the north, and to Kansas, Texas, and northern Florida in the center and south. Within its native range it is a relatively common plant where it grows in the understory in moist, rich woods, especially those with exposed limestone.

<i>Antheraea polyphemus</i> Species of moth

Antheraea polyphemus, the Polyphemus moth, is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths. It is a tan-colored moth, with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 in). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hindwings. The eyespots give it its name – from the Greek myth of the cyclops Polyphemus. The species was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1776. The species is widespread in continental North America, with local populations found throughout subarctic Canada and the United States. The caterpillar can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months. Polyphemus moths are considered to be very polyphagous, meaning they eat from a wide variety of plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen (butterfly)</span> Species of butterfly

The queen butterfly is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae with a wingspan of 80–85 mm. It is orange or brown with black wing borders and small white forewing spots on its dorsal wing surface, and reddish ventral wing surface fairly similar to the dorsal surface. The ventral hindwings have black veins and small white spots in a black border. The male has a black androconial scent patch on its dorsal hindwings. It can be found in meadows, fields, marshes, deserts, and at the edges of forests.

<i>Dryocampa rubicunda</i> Species of moth

Dryocampa rubicunda, the rosy maple moth, is a small North American moth in the family Saturniidae, also known as the great silk moths. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793. The species is known for its wooly body and pink and yellow coloration, which varies from cream or white to bright pink or yellow. Males have bushier antennae than females, which allow them to sense female pheromones for mating.

<i>Battus philenor</i> Species of butterfly

Battus philenor, the pipevine swallowtail or blue swallowtail, is a swallowtail butterfly found in North America and Central America. This butterfly is black with iridescent-blue hindwings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests. Caterpillars are often black or red, and feed on compatible plants of the genus Aristolochia. They are known for sequestering acids from the plants they feed on in order to defend themselves from predators by being poisonous when consumed. The adults feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers. Some species of Aristolochia are toxic to the larvae, typically tropical varieties. While enthusiasts have led citizen efforts to conserve pipevine swallowtails in their neighborhoods on the West coast, the butterfly has not been the subject of a formal program in conservation or protected in legislation. The butterfly is however of "Special Concern" in Michigan, which is on the Northern limit of its range.

<i>Citheronia regalis</i> Species of moth

Citheronia regalis, the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the family Saturniidae. The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils. The adult (imago) has a wingspan of 3.75–6.1 in (9.5–15.5 cm). The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buck moth</span> Species of moth

The buck moth is a common insect found in oak forests, stretching in the United States from peninsular Florida to New England, and as far west as Texas and Kansas. It was first described by Dru Drury in 1773. 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. The poison can cause symptoms ranging from stinging, itching and burning sensations to nausea. Subspecies Hemileuca maia maia is listed as endangered in the US state of Connecticut.

<i>Papilio palamedes</i> Species of butterfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">External morphology of Lepidoptera</span> External features of butterflies and moths

The external morphology of Lepidoptera is the physiological structure of the bodies of insects belonging to the order Lepidoptera, also known as butterflies and moths. Lepidoptera are distinguished from other orders by the presence of scales on the external parts of the body and appendages, especially the wings. Butterflies and moths vary in size from microlepidoptera only a few millimetres long, to a wingspan of many inches such as the Atlas moth. Comprising over 160,000 described species, the Lepidoptera possess variations of the basic body structure which has evolved to gain advantages in adaptation and distribution.

<i>Arsenura armida</i> Species of moth

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<i>Anisota virginiensis</i> Species of moth

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<i>Hemileuca lucina</i> Species of moth

Hemileuca lucina, the New England buck moth, is a species of moth in the family Saturniidae. This moth species is only found in the New England region of the United States. Larvae in early stages mainly feed on broadleaf meadowsweet whereas larvae in later stages show variation in food sources such as blackberry and black cherry leaves. Larvae have a black body with orange/black spines on their back that are used to deter predators. Pupation occurs during the summer and adult moths come out around September.

References

  1. Callosamia promethea https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.116408/Callosamia_promethea
  2. 1 2 3 Scoble, Malcolm (1995). The Lepidoptera: Form, Function, and Diversity. Natural History Museum (London, England). Oxford: The Natural History Museum in association with Oxford University Press. ISBN   0198549520. OCLC   33103467.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Villiard, Paul (1969). Moths and How to Rear Them. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Morton, Eugene S. (May 28, 2009). "The Function of Multiple Mating by Female Promethea Moths, Callosamia promethea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)". The American Midland Naturalist. 162 (1): 7–18. doi:10.1674/0003-0031-162.1.7. ISSN   0003-0031. S2CID   85890593.
  5. 1 2 3 Holland, W. J. (1905). The Moth Book: A Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Moths of North America. New York: Doubleday, Page and Company. pp. 85–86.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Promethea silkmoth Callosamia promethea (Drury, 1773)". Butterflies and Moths of North America.
  7. 1 2 "Detailed information on Promethea Moth, Spicebush Silkmoth (Callosamia promethea)". davesgarden.com. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gilbert, Waldbauer (1996). Insects Through the Seasons . Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. ISBN   067445488X. OCLC   32893542.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Heitzman, J. Richard; Heitzman, Joan E. (1987). Butterflies and Moths of Missouri. Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri.
  10. Scriber, J. Mark; Potter, Juliana; Johnson, Kelly (1991). "Lack of Physiological Improvement in Performance of Callosamia promethea Larvae on Local Host Plant Favorites". Oecologia. 86 (2): 232–235. Bibcode:1991Oecol..86..232S. doi:10.1007/bf00317535. JSTOR   4219595. PMID   28313205. S2CID   9318313.
  11. "The Secret Life of a Giant Silk Moth". Your Great Outdoors. July 31, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  12. Forbes, William T. M. (1923). The Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States. Ithaca, New York: Published by the University.
  13. "Batesian mimicry | zoology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved November 15, 2017.

Further reading

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