New Jersey Butterfly Club
A chapter of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA)
Promethea Moth (Callosamia promethea)
Hodges number: 7764
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Saturniinae
Wingspan: 3.0-3.75 inches
Range in NJ: Statewide
A U.S./Canada distribution map for this species is available.
Flight Period: May to July, 1 brood
Caterpillar Food Plants: A wide variety of woody plants
Comments: Like most species in this family, Promethea Moths are attracted to lights. Cocoons are often found wrapped in dry leaves on Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) shrubs in and near wetlands. Males and females are quite different in color and pattern.
Female, Sussex County, NJ, 6/11/11.
Mating pair (male on right), Sussex County, NJ, 5/29/11.
Last-instar larva on Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Sussex County, NJ, 8/20/16.
Cocoons wrapped in dried leaves of Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Warren County, NJ, 4/29/11.