Geographic-polymorphism

Guides

• Hemileuca hera

  Sagebrush Sheep Moth, Hera Buckmoth

  Hemileuca hera is a large, day-flying Saturniid moth (buck moth) native to western North America. First described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841, this species exhibits striking geographic color variation ranging from nearly white to nearly black depending on locale. Adults are diurnal, lack functional feeding mouthparts, and do not feed. The species comprises two recognized subspecies: H. h. hera (Great Basin) and H. h. marcata (Southern Oregon). Larvae feed on sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata, A. tripartita) and other plants including Lupinus and Eriogonum.

  Saturniidaebuck-mothsheep-mothdiurnal-mothsagebrushwestern-North-Americapredator-prey-coevolutionpheromone-mimicrygeographic-polymorphism