Sheep moth | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Saturniidae |
Genus: | Hemileuca |
Species: | H. eglanterina
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Binomial name | |
Hemileuca eglanterina
Boisduval, 1852
|
The sheep moth, or common sheep moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), is a member of the family Saturniidae of silk moths and is native to western North America. In California, its range is west of the Sierran crest [1] and the mountains of Southern California, ranging near to the coast. [2] The moth is dayflying and appears in summer. [1] It feeds on plants of three genera: Ceanothus, Rhamnus (including coffeeberry), and Rosa. [1] [2] Nuttall's sheep moth and one other species are similar, occurring in sagebrush areas east of the Sierra Nevada. [1] The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1852. [3]
The sheep moth has a 5.5-8.5 centimeter wingspan and a relatively slender body. Its forewings are pink with a yellow streak in the middle and the hindwings are yellowish with variable black markings. There is an all-black form near Mount Shasta. [1] The larvae are black with branched yellowish spines that become orange in later development and an orange-brown head. [1]
Sheep moth | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Saturniidae |
Genus: | Hemileuca |
Species: | H. eglanterina
|
Binomial name | |
Hemileuca eglanterina
Boisduval, 1852
|
The sheep moth, or common sheep moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), is a member of the family Saturniidae of silk moths and is native to western North America. In California, its range is west of the Sierran crest [1] and the mountains of Southern California, ranging near to the coast. [2] The moth is dayflying and appears in summer. [1] It feeds on plants of three genera: Ceanothus, Rhamnus (including coffeeberry), and Rosa. [1] [2] Nuttall's sheep moth and one other species are similar, occurring in sagebrush areas east of the Sierra Nevada. [1] The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1852. [3]
The sheep moth has a 5.5-8.5 centimeter wingspan and a relatively slender body. Its forewings are pink with a yellow streak in the middle and the hindwings are yellowish with variable black markings. There is an all-black form near Mount Shasta. [1] The larvae are black with branched yellowish spines that become orange in later development and an orange-brown head. [1]