Saturniidae

Guides

Hemileuca electra
electra buckmoth
Hemileuca electra, the electra buckmoth, is a species of buck moth in the family Saturniidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species was described by W. G. Wright in 1884. Three subspecies are recognized: H. e. clio, H. e. electra, and H. e. mojavensis. Like other Hemileuca species, it is a day-flying moth with larvae that possess urticating spines.
day-flying urticating-spines Saturniidae Hemileucinae buck-moth Central-America North-America geographic-variation pheromone-variation
Hemileuca electra mojavensis
Hemileuca electra mojavensis is a subspecies of buck moth in the family Saturniidae, first described by Tuskes & McElfresh in 1993. As a member of the Hemileucinae subfamily, its larvae bear venomous spines characteristic of this group. The subspecies is associated with the Mojave Desert region and exhibits geographic variation typical of the Hemileuca electra species complex.
urticating-spines venomous-caterpillar diurnal-moth desert-fauna oak-feeder Saturniidae Hemileucinae Mojave-Desert
Hemileuca griffini
Griffin's Sheepmoth, Canadian Fleabane Moth
Hemileuca griffini is a day-flying silk moth in the family Saturniidae, described by Tuskes in 1978. The species occurs in North America and is one of approximately 24 species in the genus Hemileuca, commonly known as buck moths or sheep moths. Like other members of its genus, it is likely characterized by striking coloration and urticating (stinging) caterpillars that feed on woody plants. The Hodges number for this species is 7740.
moth saturniidae day-flying urticating-caterpillars north-america hodges-7740 erigeron-canadensis prairie savanna
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.
Saturniidae buck-moth sheep-moth diurnal-moth sagebrush western-North-America predator-prey-coevolution pheromone-mimicry geographic-polymorphism
Hemileuca hualapai
Hualapai Buckmoth
Hemileuca hualapai, the Hualapai buckmoth, is a species of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. It is native to Central America and North America. The species was described by Neumoegen in 1883 and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 7728. As a member of the genus Hemileuca, it shares characteristics with other buckmoths including diurnal flight activity and caterpillars with urticating spines.
Saturniidae giant-silkmoth buckmoth diurnal-moth urticating-caterpillar
Hemileuca juno
Juno buck moth, Juno buckmoth
Hemileuca juno is a saturniid moth in the subfamily Hemileucinae, commonly known as the Juno buck moth. First described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1872, this species occurs in Central and North America. Like other members of the genus Hemileuca, it is a day-flying moth with larvae that possess urticating spines capable of delivering painful stings. The species is assigned Hodges number 7735.
day-flying-moth stinging-caterpillar urticating-spines Saturniidae Hemileucinae North-America Central-America
Hemileuca magnifica
Magnificent Buck Moth
Hemileuca magnifica is a species of buck moth in the family Saturniidae, described by Rotger in 1948. Like other members of the genus Hemileuca, it is a day-flying moth with adults 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 congeners such as H. eglanterina and H. nevadensis.
Saturniidae buck-moth day-flying-moth urticating-caterpillars Rotger-1948
Hemileuca maia
buck moth
Hemileuca maia, commonly known as the buck moth, is a saturniid moth native to eastern North America. The species has expanded its range northward in recent decades. Adults are diurnal and do not feed. Larvae feed gregariously on oak foliage and possess urticating spines capable of causing painful reactions in humans and animals. The species has one generation per year, with eggs overwintering on host twigs. Recent taxonomic research has clarified the complex evolutionary relationships within the H. maia-nevadensis species complex, elevating several previously synonymized populations to species status.
Saturniidae oak-defoliator urticating-caterpillar diurnal-moth species-complex range-expansion medical-entomology integrated-pest-management pheromone-biology predator-prey-coevolution
Hemileuca neumoegeni
Neumoegen's Buckmoth
Hemileuca neumoegeni is a day-flying buck moth in the family Saturniidae. Adults are smaller than typical giant silkmoths and do not feed, relying on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species is native to North America and shares the genus with other buck moths known for urticating caterpillars that feed on oaks.
buck-moth Saturniidae day-flying-moth North-America
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.
Saturniidae Hemileuca diurnal-moth urticating-caterpillar western-North-America predator-prey-coevolution
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.
pest rangeland grassland outbreak rodent-predation parasitoid-host day-flying-moth Saturniidae Hemileuca southwestern-US Chihuahua New-Mexico livestock-forage-competition integrated-pest-management Anastatus-semiflavidus condensed-tannin-response water-physiology Peromyscus-truei pinyon-mouse-predation population-cycles MONA-number-7729 Hodges-number-7729
Hemileuca peigleri
Texas buck moth
Hemileuca peigleri, the Texas buck moth, is a day-flying saturniid moth endemic to central Texas. Adults are short-lived and do not feed, relying on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species is closely associated with oak habitats, where larvae feed on several oak species. Taxonomic status has been debated, with some authorities treating it as a subspecies of Hemileuca maia, though it is currently recognized as a distinct species.
Saturniidae buck-moth Texas-endemic oak-specialist diurnal-moth stinging-caterpillar Lepidoptera
Hemileuca slosseri
Slosser's buckmoth, nit-grass moth
Hemileuca slosseri is a species of buck moth in the family Saturniidae, described in 1989 by Richard S. Peigler and Stephen E. Stone. It is found in North America, particularly in the southwestern United States including New Mexico and adjacent Oklahoma. The species is associated with oak habitats, with larvae feeding on Havard shin-oak (Quercus havardii). Like other Hemileuca species, it is diurnal and possesses urticating (stinging) spines as larvae.
Saturniidae Hemileucinae buck-moth day-flying-moth urticating-spines Quercus-havardii sand-dune Chihuahuan-Desert Great-Plains New-Mexico Oklahoma oak-specialist stinging-caterpillar
Hemileuca stonei
Stone's buckmoth, pangola-grass moth
Hemileuca stonei is a day-flying buck moth in the family Saturniidae, first described by Claude Lemaire in 1993. The species occurs in Central and North America and is one of approximately 24 Hemileuca species in North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely has urticating (stinging) caterpillars that feed on specific host plants. The species is relatively poorly documented compared to some congeners.
Saturniidae buck-moth day-flying-moth prairie grassland North-America Central-America
Hemileucinae
Buck and Io Moths
Hemileucinae is a subfamily of Saturniidae containing approximately 630 species endemic to North and South America. The subfamily is characterized by larvae bearing venomous urticating spines or setae, with some species capable of causing severe medical reactions in humans. Notable genera include Lonomia, whose caterpillars can cause life-threatening envenomation, and Automeris, known for their striking eyespot patterns. Adults are typically medium to large moths with reduced or non-functional mouthparts.
urticating-spines venomous-caterpillars medical-entomology envenomation gregarious-larvae New-World-endemic Saturniidae Lepidoptera erucism lepidopterism
Hyalophora
Giant Silk Moths, Silkmoths
Hyalophora is a genus of giant silk moths in the family Saturniidae, containing some of the largest and most visually striking moths in North America. The genus includes the cecropia moth (H. cecropia), North America's largest native moth, along with several other notable species such as the Columbia silkmoth and Glover's silkmoth. Adults are characterized by their large size, broad wings with distinctive eyespot patterns, and reduced mouthparts—they do not feed. Larvae are equally impressive, with bright coloration and prominent tubercles or spines. The genus was established by James Duncan and John O. Westwood in 1841.
Saturniidae giant-silk-moth cecropia North-America forest nocturnal non-feeding-adult univoltine introduced-parasitoid-impact research-model-organism
Hyalophora cecropia
Cecropia moth, Cecropia silkmoth, Robin moth
Hyalophora cecropia, the cecropia moth, is North America's largest native moth, with females documented at wingspans of 130-180 mm (5-7 inches). A member of the Saturniidae family (giant silk moths), this univoltine species produces one generation per year. Adults lack functional mouthparts and survive approximately two weeks solely on stored fat reserves. The species has declined in parts of New England due to parasitism by the introduced tachinid fly Compsilura concinnata, which was originally brought to North America for gypsy moth control.
Saturniidae giant-silk-moth native-moth univoltine cocoon-dimorphism bet-hedging juvenile-hormone cecropin parasitoid-threat Compsilura-concinnata
Hyalophora columbia columbia
Columbia Silk Moth
The Columbia Silk Moth is a subspecies of giant silk moth in the family Saturniidae. Adults are among the largest North American moths. Larvae typically feed on larch, though intergrade populations show dietary flexibility. The subspecies occurs in boreal and north-temperate regions, with documented populations in Wisconsin and intergrade zones in northwestern Ontario. Adult flight peaks in early June. Natural hybridization with related species occurs rarely despite sympatric overlap.
Lepidoptera Saturniidae silk-moth hybridization North-America boreal-forest
Hyalophora euryalus euryalus
Ceanothus silk moth, Western cecropia moth
Hyalophora euryalus euryalus is a subspecies of giant silk moth in the family Saturniidae, native to western North America. Adults are among the largest moths in the region, with wingspans reaching up to 15 centimeters. The subspecies is distinguished by its reddish-brown wing coloration with prominent eyespots and white crescent markings. Like other Hyalophora species, adults lack functional mouthparts and do not feed, living only long enough to mate and reproduce. Larvae are notable for their large size, colorful tubercles, and urticating spines.
silkmoth giant-moth western-north-america cecropia-group saturniidae forest-lepidoptera nocturnal light-attracted
Hyalophora gloveri
Glover's silkmoth
Hyalophora gloveri is a large silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, first described by Strecker in 1872. The species occurs across western North America from the Rocky Mountains through the northern Great Plains and Canadian prairie provinces. Its taxonomic status remains debated; several authorities treat it as a subspecies of Hyalophora columbia. The species exhibits two recognized subspecies: H. g. gloveri and H. g. nokomis. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 100 mm.
Saturniidae silkmoth western-North-America prairie Rocky-Mountains
Lanugo cestus
Lanugo cestus is a species of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. It is native to the Neotropical region and exhibits the large size and reduced mouthparts characteristic of many saturniid moths. Adults are primarily nocturnal and do not feed. The species has received limited scientific study, and many aspects of its biology remain undocumented.
Saturniidae giant-silkmoth Neotropical nocturnal non-feeding-adult
Phasmophaga
Phasmophaga is a genus of tachinid flies established by Townsend in 1909. The genus comprises five described species distributed in the Americas. At least one species, P. antennalis, has been documented as a parasitoid of saturniid moth caterpillars. The genus belongs to the tribe Blondeliini within the subfamily Exoristinae.
parasitoid tachinid saturniidae
Rothschildia
Rothschildia is a genus of giant silkmoths in the family Saturniidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1896. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Argentina. Adults are characterized by large size, reduced or vestigial mouthparts, and often striking wing patterns including transparent "windows" devoid of scales. Several species have documented cultural significance for indigenous peoples, particularly the use of cocoons in ceremonial regalia.
giant-silkmoth Saturniidae neotropical cultural-entomology indigenous-use cocoon-harvest transparent-wing-windows non-feeding-adult
Rothschildia lebeau
Lebeau's Silk Moth, Forbes Moth
Rothschildia lebeau is a giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, distributed from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through eastern Mexico to Brazil. Adults are short-lived and do not feed, relying on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species exhibits a life history tradeoff between larval survival and adult body size based on host plant quality, with larger males showing higher mating success.
giant-silkmoth Saturniidae host-plant-tradeoff sexual-selection tropical-dry-forest Barro-Colorado-Island pheromone-communication non-feeding-adult complete-metamorphosis cultural-significance indigenous-use cocoon-harvesting mating-success body-size-dimorphism seasonal-variation microbial-associations protistan-diversity caterpillar-microbiome herbivore forest-ecology Neotropical Mexico Central-America South-America Panama Costa-Rica Brazil Texas Rio-Grande-Valley exhibit-species butterfly-house education conservation light-pollution suburban-sprawl introduced-parasites rearing cottage-industry vestigial-mouthparts fat-reserves short-lived-adult female-sedentary-behavior male-dispersal oviposition-site-selection fitness-consequences life-history-evolution quantitative-genetic-variation wet-season-phenology developmental-plasticity survival-size-tradeoff herbivore-performance plant-animal-interactions microbial-observatory molecular-characterization eukaryotic-microbiome saturniid-caterpillar Lepidoptera Bombycoidea Rothschildia Guérin-Méneville-1868 Attacus-lebeau Lebeau's-Silk-Moth Forbes-Moth Rothschildia-lebeau-forbesi windows transparent-wing-patches scale-less-wing-areas antennae sexual-dimorphism mate-choice sperm-competition reproductive-success larval-performance caterpillar-growth pupal-development adult-emergence longevity predation bat-predation nocturnal crepuscular moth silkmoth silkworm giant-moth forest-moth tropical-moth Neotropical-fauna biodiversity insect-collection museum-specimen Bohart-Museum American-Museum-of-Natural-History entomology lepidopterology systematics taxonomy natural-history field-study observational-study experimental-ecology evolutionary-ecology behavioral-ecology population-biology community-ecology ecosystem-function food-web trophic-interaction herbivory folivory tree-insect-interaction phenology climate-effects seasonality environmental-variation habitat-heterogeneity host-race ecotype local-adaptation 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tolerance recovery survival mortality fecundity fertility sterility hybridization introgression gene-flow population-structure genetic-differentiation FST isolation-by-distance isolation-by-environment landscape-genetics landscape-ecology spatial-ecology geographic-information-system remote-sensing satellite-imagery habitat-suitability species-distribution-model ecological-niche-model MaxEnt BIOMOD ensemble-forecast climate-envelope niche-conservatism niche-evolution realized-niche fundamental-niche biotic-interaction competition facilitation apparent-competition indirect-effect trophic-cascade keystone-species ecosystem-engineer foundation-species dominant-species rare-species functional-diversity functional-trait trait-based-ecology community-assembly filtering sorting neutral-theory niche-theory unified-theory metacommunity metapopulation source-sink-dynamics rescue-effect mass-effect patch-dynamics landscape-mosaic connectivity corridor stepping-stone matrix-quality edge-effect 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Rothschildia lebeau forbesi
Forbes' Silk Moth, Forbes Moth
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi, commonly known as Forbes' Silk Moth, is a subspecies of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. It ranges from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through eastern Mexico to Brazil. Adults are frequently mistaken for the Atlas Moth due to distinctive transparent "windows" in their wings that lack scales. Like other giant silkmoths, adults do not feed and live only a few days, surviving on fat reserves accumulated during the larval stage.
Saturniidae giant-silkmoth Rio-Grande-Valley Mexico Brazil transparent-wing-windows non-feeding-adult short-lived cultural-use indigenous-peoples ceremonial-cocoons
Samia cynthia
ailanthus silkmoth, eri silkmoth
Samia cynthia is a large saturniid moth used for silk production, though less domesticated than Bombyx mori. Adults have wingspans of 113–125 mm with distinctive quarter-moon shaped spots on both wing surfaces, whitish and yellow stripes on a brown background, and eyespots on the outer forewings. The species is native to East Asia and has been introduced to multiple continents, often escaping from cultivation. The subspecies S. c. ricini, known as the eri silkmoth, feeds on castor bean and produces durable eri silk that must be spun rather than reeled.
silkmoth saturniidae eri-silk ailanthus invasive-species-host sericulture domesticated-insect wild-silk polyphagous-larvae feral-populations
Syssphinx bicolor
honey locust moth
Syssphinx bicolor, commonly known as the honey locust moth, is a North American saturniid moth with variable wing coloration ranging from grayish to yellow, orange, or dark reddish brown. The species exhibits three annual broods with adults of different color morphs appearing sequentially—grayish first, then yellow to orange-brown, and finally darker with more spotting. Larvae feed on honey locust and Kentucky coffee tree, with distinctive color changes between gregarious young stages and solitary older instars.
Saturniidae Ceratocampinae North-America woodland legume-feeder multivoltine color-polymorphism underground-pupation
Syssphinx blanchardi
Syssphinx blanchardi is a species of giant silk moth in the family Saturniidae, described by Ferguson in 1971. The species belongs to a genus of smaller saturniids found in southwestern North America and Mexico. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light sources. Larvae feed on woody leguminous plants and pupate underground. The species is part of a taxonomically complex group that has historically been placed in the genus Sphingicampa.
Saturniidae Ceratocampinae silk-moth Lepidoptera North-America Middle-America nocturnal underground-pupation legume-feeders
Syssphinx montana
Montana Silkmoth
Syssphinx montana is a silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. Adults have a wingspan of 62–82 mm, with males smaller than females. The species is found in Mexico and rarely in southeastern Arizona. Adults are active from mid-July to early August and do not feed. Larvae feed on several leguminous host plants.
Saturniidae silkmoth Mexico Arizona nocturnal legume-feeder cryptic-larvae
Syssphinx raspa
Raspa Small Silkmoth
Syssphinx raspa is a small silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, native to North and Middle America. It is closely related to Hubbard's Silkmoth (Syssphinx hubbardi), with which it shares similar biology and appearance. The species has a wingspan of approximately 56-76 mm. Adults are primarily gray with bright pink hindwings that are exposed when startled. Like other Syssphinx species, the caterpillars feed on leguminous host plants and pupate underground.
silkmoth Saturniidae desert-moth nocturnal legume-feeder