Adult Anisota identification (Oakworm Moths)
Very quick and rough ID info gathered from multiple sites. Not positive of the accuracy.
Anisota senatoria : Possible species complex of A. senatoria, A. peigleri, and A. finlaysoni
Adults are very orange, have black wing spots.. Males have a circular transparent area on wings, hyaline area seems more extensive up north, A. peigleri in the southeast has very little hyaline area. Season: late June to August.
Anisota stigma: Yellow-brown, orange-brown, to reddish orange opaque wings, pink tint past the postmedial line, faint postmedian lines and scattered black specks on both wings, small white spot on forewing. Males are redder than females. Season: July-August in the south. *Only night flying male attracted to lights. All other species' males are day flying. I noticed while annotating several dozen observations with a number of obs with mating pairs that the male and female are very similar in size and coloration. Males are just a hair smaller and I probably couldn't tell them apart if shown by themselves.
Anisota virginiensis: Female's wings are purplish red with ochre-yellow, and purplish margin of wings, obvious on forewing in living specimens, no spotting. Male's wings are purplish brown with a large transparent space in the middle and no spotting. Range is south down to North Carolina. Season: Two flights in mid-range: late July-early September.
Anisota pellucida Same as A. virginiensis with the exception of range and season. Range: SE below North Carolina. Three flights possible in south. Apparently the only Anisota species with a spring flight.
