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.
| Hyalophora columbia | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Saturniidae |
| Genus: | Hyalophora |
| Species: | H. columbia
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| Binomial name | |
| Hyalophora columbia (S. I. Smith, 1865)
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| Synonyms | |
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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 edit
- 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 edit
- McLeod, Robin (July 31, 2014). "Species Hyalophora columbia - Columbia Silkmoth - Hodges#7768". BugGuide. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- Lotts, Kelly & Naberhaus, Thomas (2017). "Columbia silkmoth Hyalophora columbia (S.I. Smith, 1865)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- "The Columbia Moth Hyalophora columbia columbia (S. I. Smith, 1865)". Silkmoths. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
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