Citheronia: Presumably named for Cithaeron or Kithairon, a mountain range in Greece, which in Greek mythology, was sacred to the god Dionysus.
sith-ur-oh-nee-uh
Citheronia is a New World genus of silkworm moths in the family Saturniidae.
Distribution of Genus Citheronia | ||||
Taxonomic Level | Worldwide | North America | Midwestern USA | Indiana |
---|---|---|---|---|
Species | ~47 | 14 | 2a | 1 |
aThe other Midwestern species of Citheronia is the pine-devil moth (Citheronia sepulcralis). Native to the southeastern United States, observers have documented it in Kentucky and Ohio.
Citheronia regalis, first described in 1793 by Johan Christian Fabricius as Bombyx regalis.
The map, graph, and data below represent the Indiana sightings of the genus Citheronia. All sightings were confirmed through photographic evidence by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP). All data is current as of 13 November 2024.
Counties recorded:
16 of 92
Top counties/#of records:
Monroe: 16
Brown: 13
Jefferson: 8
Washington: 4
Putnam: 3
Switzerland: 2
Orange: 2
GAIN LP documented in county
Image courtesy of Michele Pollock.