Nevada buckmoth Hemileuca nevadensis Stretch, 1872

Family: Saturniidae

Subfamily: Hemileucinae

Identification: Females are larger than males. Male abdomen is black with a red tip, female abdomen is black. Upperside of wings is creamy white with wide black borders and black on the costal edges and wing bases. Each wing has a small black eyespot and some pale yellow streaks in the white portion.

Wing Span: 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5 - 7 cm).

Life History: Adults emerge just after dawn and mating begins in late morning. Females lay eggs in the early afternoon in rings around twigs of the host plants. Eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring. Young caterpillars feed in groups and older caterpillars feed alone. Caterpillars spin loose cocoons in plant litter under the host plants.

Flight: One brood from September-December.

Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of willows (Salix) and cottonwoods (Populus).

Adult Food: Adults do not feed.

Habitat: Riparian zones and areas with high groundwater.

Range: Wisconsin west across southern Canada to central Oregon; south through central Nebraska to New Mexico, northern Arizona, northern Nevada, and inland southern California.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management Needs: Occasional large outbreaks can defoliate poplar and cottonwood stands.

Comments: NULL

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Observation date: unknown

Submitted by: legacy.reporter

Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States

Verified by: legacy.verifier

Verified date: Dec 31, 2004

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Nevada buckmoth
Hemileuca nevadensis Stretch, 1872