Callosamia angulifera

Adult male — Hamilton County (Dan McCord)

Adult male (underside) — Brown County (Michele Pollock)

Adult female — Brown County (Mark Sheehan)

Adult female (underside) — Washington County (Suzanna Hendrix)

Caterpillar — Montgomery County (Laura Vogler)

An Indiana Native

Callosamia angulifera — Tulip-tree Silkmoth

(Walker, 1855)

Hodges# 7765

Etymology

Callosamia: Callo in Latin means “beautiful,” and in Greek mythology, Samia was a freshwater nymph and the daughter of the river god Maeander.

Angulifera: Combines the Greek angul, meaning “angle” and the Latin ifera, for “bearing.” Together, the words mean “bearing an angle,” possibly referring to the T-shaped reniform spots present on each wing.

Pronunciation

kal-oh-sam-eye-uh an-guhl-eye-feer-uh

Other Common Names

Giant Silkmoth, Tuliptree Silkmoth, Tulip Tree Silkmoth

Adult Size and Description

Wingspan: 80–110 mm (3.1–4.2 in).
Coloration and Patterning:

Fore and hind wings brown in males and yellow to orange-brown in females
Each wing with a light-colored, wavy postmedial line and a single “T-shaped” discal spot near the center (larger on forewings).
Forewings each with dark a eyespot near the apex

Sexual Dimorphism:

Males darker than females

Defense Mechanisms:

Crypsis — Tree coloration
Batesian Mimicry — Eyespots
Deimatic Display — Flapping of wings when disturbed to display eyespots and red/white wing stripes to startle predators.

Range

This map illustrates documented North American records of Callosamia angulifera as of 31 December 2020.

Documented record(s)

secure 5: Secure NR: Not ranked

Floral Associates

Callosamia angulifera larvae are specialized feeders on the foliage of tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera). According to one reference (Bouseman & Sternberg 2002), this is their only food source, but other authors and researchers list more larval host plants. As such, the authors of this page have chosen to include all documented host plants. The native ranges maps of the tree and the moth provide compelling evidence of the relationship between the two species.

Tuliptree Range — The native range of the tulip tree (*Liriodendron tulipifera*)

Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Order: Fagales
Juglandaceae	Carya spp.	hickories
	Juglans spp.	black walnut and butternut
Order: Laurales
Lauraceae	Sassafras albidum	sassafras
Order: Magnoliales
Magnoliaceae	Liriodendron tulipifera	tulip tree
	Magnolia spp.	magnolias
Order: Myrtales
Lythraceae	Lythrum spp.	loosestrifes
Order: Rosales
Rosaceae	Malus spp.	apples and crabapples
	Prunus spp.	cherries

Tulip-tree Silkmoth (Callosamia angulifera) in Indiana

The map, graph(s), and data below represent the Indiana sightings of Callosamia angulifera as of 21 December 2024, confirmed through photographic evidence by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

Occurrences by County

Counties recorded: 36 of 92

Top counties/#of records:
Monroe: 25
Washington: 23
Brown: 22
Hamilton: 16
Scott: 11
Harrison: 9
Owen: 8

species present icon GAIN LP documented in county

Sightings by Month

Earliest live adult: Ronda Byers, Brown County on 01 May 2021
Latest live adult observation: Lisa Pause, Fayette County on 19 August 2019

Total Sightings by Year

Total Number of observations (all years combined): 118
Number of field observers: 59

Sightings by Gender

Image Gallery

The images and records below were all submitted by individuals through the Great American Indiana Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).