Walters' saturnia moth Saturnia walterorum Hogue & Johnson, 1958

Family: Saturniidae

Subfamily: Saturniinae

Identification: Upperside is brownish orange to yellow-orange with an eyespot on each wing. Spot at the tip of the forewing is well-developed in both sexes. Black submarginal line on the hindwing is solid throughout its length. Female has distinct darker areas at the wing bases and a black submarginal line on the forewing.

Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 3/4 inches (6.4 - 9.4 cm).

Life History: Adults emerge in early morning and fly during the day. Females lay eggs singly or in small bunches on the host plants. Eggs hatch in 11-30 days and the young caterpillars feed singly or in small groups on the underside of host leaves. Loosely-woven mesh-like cocoons are spun on the host plant.

Flight: One brood from late January to late May.

Caterpillar Hosts: Manzanita (Arctostaphylos), laurel-leaf sumac (Rhus laurina), lemonade-berry (Rhus integrifolia), and probably others.

Adult Food: Adults do not feed.

Habitat: Chaparral from sea level to 6400 feet.

Range: Southern California south to Rosarita in Baja California, Mexico.

Conservation: United States populations should be inventoried and monitored to determine if conservation is warranted.

NCGR: GU - Unable to assign rank due to lack of available information.

Management Needs: None reported.

Comments: NULL

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