Hyalophora, but which one? - Hyalophora columbia

Moved

Moved from Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths.

… David J. Ferguson, 27 July, 2009 - 3:48pm

Moved

Moved from Moths.

… john and jane balaban, 26 July, 2009 - 2:07pm

Hyalophora [columbia] gloveri

In the Owen's Valley they are gloveri, but some are supposed to show some influence from hybridization with H. euryalus, which contacts gloveri through the passes in the Sierra Nevada (notably in the area of Monitor Pass (not that far from Bishop). Supposedly hybrids dominate the population at Monitor Pass.

Your's looks like pretty typical gloveri to me, but the elongate central spot on the hind wing may be due to some genes from euryalus (but specimens like this can be seen in populations as far east as Colorado, so hybrid genes aren't necessarily so).

a tidbit of trivia and opinion:

Seems to me that H. euryalus and H. columbia should be called subspecies of one species, since gloveri and euryalis form "blend zones" wherever they meet. After-all, that's why gloveri is now lumped together with columbia as a subspecies. If so treated, they would all three become subspecies of H. euryalus, since it's the oldest name.

… David J. Ferguson, 27 May, 2009 - 2:05am

Hi David, Bill, & Ryan

I just posted an image of a Hyalophora caterpillar from the eastside of the Sierra Nevada...between the Owens Valley and Monitor Pass (but closer to the latter):

Earlier I had thought it would be H. [columbia] gloveri from location...but it has solid black bands at the bases of the tubercles atop the thorax.

So I just placed it to genus...hoping for guidance from those with expertise regarding species ID.

… Aaron Schusteff, 8 February, 2018 - 5:27pm

I couldn't agree more!

I expressed similar opinions and comments under this image.

I agree gloveri and columbia are likely conspecific and form an extensive cline ...I was shot down as a "heretic" for thinking and sharing that notion a while back. It has been my experience that "blend zones" seem to dominate extensive regions west of the Rockies (Canada south to Mexico back east to the Rockies). In all likelihood, "gloveri" represents either the "blend zone" between euryalus in the west and columbia in the east - or - "gloveri" is possibly closer to the "representative parent taxon" since it is so widespread and centralized in distribution. Embracing the second hypothetical, euryalus may be the western extreme and columbia the eastern extreme (???)!

f.y.i. - Although I believe cecropia to be distinct, it too may be involved in some of the blend zones. There are isolates along the northern parts of the ranges where "columbia x cecropia" products may compose the majority of individ's within a given population. Even more extensive, are the "cecropia-gloveri blend zones" to the west. All along the western Plains, Badlands, and eastern escarpments of the Rockies, there are a number of populations that appear to be composed of "cecropia x gloveri". These populations can be encountered across parts of S. Dakota, N. Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. These Hyalophora are absolutely stunning, but taxonomically enigmatic....and some of these back-crossed moth populations produce incredible phenotypes!!

Bill Reynolds
Curator, Coordinator & Containment Director of the Arthropod Zoo
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1029
(919) 733-7450 Ext. 512
bill.reynolds@ncdenr.gov

… Bill Reynolds, 28 January, 2010 - 3:09pm

I agree

H. columbia gloveri

… Ryan St Laurent, 27 May, 2009 - 2:30pm login or register to post comments

Not Shure

I thought this was going to be an easy one. First looked like a Cecropia, but now I'm leaning toward a Columbia. Best hold out for someone familiar with west coast fauna. Sorry not more help.

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 26 May, 2009 - 1:24pm