Citheronia sepulcralis

Grote & Robinson, 1865

pine-devil moth

Citheronia sepulcralis, commonly known as the pine-devil , is a giant silk moth in the Saturniidae. are blackish-brown in color and lack functional mouthparts. The occurs across the eastern and southeastern United States, with larvae feeding exclusively on pine species. Multiple occur in southern regions, while northern are .

Citheronia sepulcralis male sjh by No machine-readable author provided. Kugamazog~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims).. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.5 license.Citheronia sepulcralis female sjh by No machine-readable author provided. Kugamazog~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims).. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.5 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Citheronia sepulcralis: //ˌsɪθəˈroʊniə ˌsɛpəlˈkreɪlɪs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

can be distinguished from other Citheronia by their blackish-brown coloration (Citheronia regalis, the royal walnut , has more orange and cream patterning). The species is also distinguished by its exclusive association with pine , whereas C. regalis feeds on walnut, hickory, and other hardwoods. Larvae are black or brown with black markings, lacking the prominent orange and black horns characteristic of C. regalis caterpillars (hickory horned devils).

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Habitat

Associated with pine forests and woodlands. Larvae feed on pine needles.

Distribution

United States: Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Florida, and Maine. Most common in Florida and Louisiana.

Seasonality

Northern US (June–July). Southern states (April–June). Florida: multiple possible from March through October.

Diet

Larvae feed on Pinus (pine). do not feed.

Host Associations

  • Pinus - larval food plantexclusive ; larvae feed on pine needles

Life Cycle

hatch after 7–10 days. Larvae feed on pine needles and develop through several instars. When ready to pupate, caterpillars burrow underground. typically emerge in late morning.

Behavior

emerge in the morning and mate on the same night. Females lay in groups of 1–3 on pine needles the following night.

Ecological Role

Larval herbivore on pine . serve as prey for birds and other during their brief adult lifespan.

Similar Taxa

  • Citheronia regalisSimilar size and (Ceratocampinae), but distinguished by coloration (orange and cream patterning vs. blackish-brown in C. sepulcralis), larval appearance (green with prominent orange and black horns vs. black/brown with black markings), and plants (walnut, hickory, and other hardwoods vs. exclusive pine association).

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Sources and further reading