Other Common Names
Sheep Moth, Common Sheep Moth, Western Sheep Moth
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Saturnia eglanterina (Boisduval, 1852)
Explanation of Names
"Sheep Moth" comes from presence of moth in pastures where sheep graze.
(1)Identification
Variable. Forewing usually rose-pink and orange, usually with black bands, though sometimes absent. Hindwing is orange with a similar pattern, though variable: sometimes absent, sometimes covering most of hindwing.
(2)
Day-flying, reputed to fly fast and close to the ground.
Range
Widely distributed in western North America: Rocky Mountains west to Pacific, from Southern California to southern Canada. In California found west of the crest of the Sierras, absent from San Joaquin Valley except for Sacramento Delta, found in southern California only in the mountains.
(3)Life Cycle
Larvae feed on trees, shrubs, esp. Rosaceae, such as rose (Rosa), Hawthorn (Crataegus), cherry (Prunus), etc. Also willow (Salix), aspen (Populus), birch (Betula).
Print References
Milne, pp. 774-775, fig. 571
(1)
Miller and Hammond,
Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands, #232, p. 107, photos of specimen.
(2)
Powell and Hogue, pp. 229-230, fig. 293, illustrate and describe H. eglanterina.
(3)
Arnett and Jacques, #244
(4)
