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Species Hemileuca electra - Hodges#7736

H electra clio 4th Instar - Hemileuca electra

Which Buck Moth is this? - Hemileuca electra

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 electra (Hemileuca electra - Hodges#7736)

Hodges Number

7736

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Hemileuca electra W.G. Wright, 1884

Explanation of Names

Specific epithet electra from Greek mythology, the princess of Argos. Electra was the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. (1)

Size

Forewing length 2.3-3.1 cm (Powell & Opler, 2009).(2)

Larva to 4.5 cm (Comstock & Dammers, 1938).

Pupa 2.5 cm (Comstock & Dammers, 1938).

Range

Mojave and Colorado Deserts of California and a population in central Arizona's Sonoran Desert (Powell & Opler, 2009).(2)

Food

Flattop Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. poliofolium (Southwestmoths.org).

Life Cycle

See Comstock & Dammers.

Print References

Comstock, J.A. & C.M. Dammers 1938. Studies on the metamorphoses of six California moths. Southern California Acad. Sci. 37(3): 113-115, pl.36-38

Ferguson, D.C., 1971. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 20.2a. E.W. Classey & R.D.B. Publications Inc., p.128; pl.7.16-21. (3)

Powell, J.A. 1986. Records of prolonged diapause in Lepidoptera. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 25(2): 101. (4)

Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, pl. 36, fig. 8; p. 238. (2)

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group (5)

Southwestmoths.org

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (6)

JCM Digital Imaging: Electra Buckmoth Emerging, Scenting, Mating, Ovipositing - wonderful YouTube video

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of natural history terms with their derivations, including the various orders, genera, and species. David H. McNicoll. 1863. Lovell Reeve & Company.

2.	Moths of Western North America Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.

3.	MONA - Saturniidae D.C. Ferguson. 1971. E.W. Classey & R.D.B. Publications Inc.

4.	Records of prolonged diapause in Lepidoptera Jerry A Powell . 1986. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 25(2): 83-109.

5.	North American Moth Photographers Group

6.	BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data Systems

Contributed by John F. Carr on 14 November, 2009 - 10:08am
Additional contributions by Maury Heiman, Randy Hardy
Last updated 23 July, 2014 - 5:27pm

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