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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths (Saturniidae) » Buck and Io Moths (Hemileucinae) » Hemileucini » Hemileuca » Griffin's Sheepmoth - Hodges#7740 (Hemileuca griffini)

Species Hemileuca griffini - Griffin's Sheepmoth - Hodges#7740

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References

Mystery caterpillar on Wilson Mesa, Utah - Hemileuca griffini

Hemileuca magnifica? - Hemileuca griffini

Hemileuca griffini ♀ - Hemileuca griffini - female

Hemileuca griffini ♂ - Hemileuca griffini - male

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)

Family Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)

Subfamily Hemileucinae (Buck and Io Moths)

Tribe Hemileucini

Genus Hemileuca

Species griffini (Griffin's Sheepmoth - Hodges#7740)

Hodges Number

7740

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Described as Hemileuca griffini in 1978, by P.M.Tuskes.(1)

Explanation of Names

Named for Bruce Griffin, who collected the first individuals of this species in 1974.(1)

Size

Adult wingspan 1.75" to 3" (2)

Caterpillar to about 2"

Identification

Male abdomen red tipped, otherwise black. Female abdomen red/black banded. Upperside of wings is white with narrow black markings.(2)

Host-plant and locality may also be helpful for ID, since this species has such narrow feeding habits and restricted distribution.

Range

Southern Utah, south to central Arizona, west to southern Nevada.(2)

Habitat

High desert scrub.

Season

Caterpillars active April-May, adults active August-October.(2)

Food

Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima).(1,2,3)

Also reported on other genera of Rosaceae: Amelanchier, Cercocarpus, Prunus. One report, possibly erroneous, of feeding on Ephedra.(3)

Life Cycle

Eggs are laid on hostplant in autumn, and hatch in April. Pupae spend the summer just below litter or soil surface, and there is one flight of adults in August-October.(1),2)

Remarks

This species is considered to be threatened, due to its restricted range, and possible threats to its habitat from grazing of livestock. (4)

Like other species in this genus, H. griffini caterpillars have venomous spines that cause a painful sting.

Internet References

1. Tuskes, Paul M. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society,(32:2), 1978. Original species description (PDF format)

2. Butterflies and Moths of North America

3. HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants

4. ZipcodeZoo.com

Contributed by Mark Fox on 21 May, 2009 - 10:51am
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz
Last updated 21 May, 2009 - 8:22pm

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