Range
se. Arizona, sw. New Mexico, south into central and western Mexico
Distribution is patchy and populations are widely distributed in montainous areas
Habitat
arid montane forests (usually oak dominant)
Season
in the sw. USA the adult flight period is usually associated with the late summer rains
adults can be collected between late July & early August
Males are readily attracted to lights and fly between 1:30 am - 3:00 am
Food
Captive notes:
early instar larvae seem to prefer and feed almost exclusively on oaks, Quercus spp.
late instar larvae will eat beech, chestnut and occasionally privet.
Life Cycle
eggs laid singly or in clusters on the host plant (twigs, branches, & leaves)
larvae may be abundant between August & October
(5 instars take approx. 6 to 8 weeks to mature and pupate)
Seem to over winter as pupae in silk cocoons
The silk cocoon is similar in size and texture to that of Actias luna (thin and papery). The cocoon is spun in leaf litter on the ground or falls to the ground with the hosts leaves in fall.
adult eclosion occurs the following year
there may be more than one generation annually depending on area
Contributed by
Bill Reynolds on 2 March, 2010 - 3:49pm
Additional contributions by
Bob PattersonLast updated 5 October, 2010 - 3:18pm