Hemileuca
Guides
Hemileuca chinatiensis
chinati sheepmoth, Chinati buck moth
Hemileuca chinatiensis, commonly known as the chinati sheepmoth or Chinati buck moth, is a species of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. The species was described by Tinkham in 1943 and is native to North America. It belongs to the genus Hemileuca, which comprises 24 species in North America, commonly referred to as buck moths or sheep moths. These moths are diurnal and often mistaken for butterflies due to their bright coloration.
Hemileuca nuttalli
Nuttall's Sheep Moth, Nuttall's Buck Moth
Hemileuca nuttalli, or Nuttall's sheep moth, is a medium-sized saturniid moth native to western North America. It is one of approximately 24 species in the genus Hemileuca, commonly known as buck moths or sheep moths. The species exhibits distinctive yellow-orange and black wing patterning and has urticating larvae that feed on woody shrubs. Adults are diurnal and do not feed. In behavioral studies, male H. nuttalli showed no attraction to Argiope aurantia spider pheromone lures, unlike some closely related species, suggesting potential predator-prey coevolutionary dynamics.
Hemileuca oliviae
Range Caterpillar, Range Caterpillar Moth
Hemileuca oliviae, the range caterpillar, is a day-flying saturniid moth native to grasslands of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species is notable for periodic population outbreaks that can cause significant damage to rangeland vegetation, impacting forage availability for livestock. Its distribution is restricted to open grassland habitats due to predation pressure from woodland rodents on eggs and pupae. The moth has been studied extensively for its ecological interactions, including host plant relationships, water physiology, and natural enemy complexes.
pestrangelandgrasslandoutbreakrodent-predationparasitoid-hostday-flying-mothSaturniidaeHemileucasouthwestern-USChihuahuaNew-Mexicolivestock-forage-competitionintegrated-pest-managementAnastatus-semiflaviduscondensed-tannin-responsewater-physiologyPeromyscus-trueipinyon-mouse-predationpopulation-cyclesMONA-number-7729Hodges-number-7729