Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSaturniidae Members: Citheronia Members: 45 NC Records

Citheronia sepulcralis Grote & Robinson, 1865 - Pine Devil Moth

Citheronia sepulcralisCitheronia sepulcralisCitheronia sepulcralis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Bombycoidea		 Family:
Saturniidae		Subfamily:
Caratocaminae		P3 Number:
890010		 MONA Number:
7708.00
Comments: One of two species in this genus that occurs in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1971), Tuskes et al. (1996)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1971), Tuskes et al. (1996), Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Adults of this species are smaller and much less conspicuously marked than those of the Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis). The dark maroon gray of the forewings and reddish brown at the base of the hindwings should make them fairly easy to recognize. However, worn specimens could be confused with some of the Sphinx Moths, some of which are similar in size and coloration, but differing in the form of their antennae: males have half-pectinate antennae and females have short, slender antennae both unlike the thicker and longer antennae typical of Sphingids. Specimens in good shape and viewed in good light show a brownish red (rose) color along the veins and discal spot of the forewing. There is also usually a small spot of yellow or pink located at the very base of the forewing.
Wingspan: 75-100 mm (Forbes, 1923); 7 - 10 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Caterpillars -- Pine Devils -- are similar in appearance to Hickory Horned Devils, the larvae of C. regalis. Both species have prominent pairs of spiky "horns" located on their thoracic segments and rows of smaller spines running the length of the abdomen. The horns and spines are typically yellow in sepulcralis and red or orange with black tips in regalis. Pine devils are usually a drab brown or beige color, in contrast with the more strongly patterned green or brown larvae of C. regalis.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Most of our records come from the Coastal Plain (except the Outer Banks) and eastern Piedmont with one also from the Low Mountains along the north shore of Fontana Lake.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Citheronia sepulcralisAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.