Hemileuca magnifica
Rotger, 1948
Magnificent Buck Moth
Hemileuca magnifica is a of buck moth in the Saturniidae, described by Rotger in 1948. Like other members of the Hemileuca, it is a day-flying with that do not feed. The species belongs to a genus known for caterpillars with urticating (stinging) spines that feed on woody plants, particularly oaks. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species compared to better-known such as H. eglanterina and H. nevadensis.
More Details
Data Availability
Only 17 observations recorded on iNaturalist as of source date. No Wikipedia summary available. The primary scientific literature appears limited to the original description by Rotger (1948) and a study in Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera (DOI: 10.5962/p.266717), for which full text was not provided in the source material.
Genus Context
Hemileuca magnifica belongs to a of approximately 24 in North America. Other Hemileuca species are well-documented: are , have reduced mouthparts and do not feed; larvae possess stinging spines and typically feed on oaks and other woody plants. However, these traits should not be assumed for H. magnifica without direct evidence.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- Catalogue of Life
- Sheep Moths Draw Attention at Bohart Museum of Entomology Open House | Bug Squad
- Look but do not touch: puss caterpillar, Megalopyge opercularis; White flannel moth, Norape ovina; Io moth, Automeris io; buck moth Hemileuca spp.; and hag moth, Phobetron pithecium — Bug of the Week
- Bug Eric: Giant Silkmoths
- Are we loving our prairies/glades/woodlands to death? | Beetles In The Bush
- The life history of Hemileuca magnifica (Saturniidae) with notes on Hemileuca hera marcata