[James J. Kruse]

On Wed, 17 Sep 1997, Dr. James Adams wrote:

> James Kruse responded to Chuck Vaugn:
> > 
> > Actually, the species in the genus Hyalophora have very similar pheromone.
> > I have attracted H. columbia in the UP of Michigan using cecropia females,
> > and also H. euryalis (ceanothus moth) in California using cecropia
> > females. Hybrids are exquisite...
> 
> Actually, the Ceanothus Moth is in the genus Samia, though even
> intergeneric similarities in pheromones are reasonably common in the 
> saturniids.  The likelihood of this cross-generic attraction is made 
> even more reasonable when one realizes that the Ceanothus Moth is an 
> import -- as Cecropia and Ceanothus moths would not have originally 
> been found together in nature, there would certainly have been no 
> possibility for confusion and no selection for different pheromonal 
> concoctions.
> 
> James Adams
> 
Actually...  I think you are refering to the cynthia moth or Ailanthus
silkmoth, Samia cynthia, imported around 1868 for sericulture, and found
in the U.S. on the east coast (New England).  

The genus Hyalophora, consisting of H. cecropia, H. euryalis, H. gloveri,
H. (g?) columbia, and various hybrid populations is strictly a North
American genus.  I do remember back in the early 70's (and before) that
Samia was the generic name I originally learned (Holland's moth book),
which is probably the source of confusion. However, I attracted H.
euryalis (ceanothus moth) in California, and it is native here, using
cecropia females from Wisconsin. 

Hope that helps...

Jim Kruse
University of California at Berkeley
Dept. of Environ Sci, Policy and Mgmt.
Div. of Insect Biology
Sperling Lab
201 Wellman Hall
Berkeley, California, 94720-3113
(510) 642-5114/7410