Hemileuca hera (Harris, 1841)
MONA 7741
Hera Buckmoth
View Photographic Plate
WA : Yakima Co.
Moxee Bog, 1148 ft
46.5, -120.5
August 31, 1975, J. P. Pelham.
Specimen courtesy of LGCC
Photograph copyright: Merrill A. Peterson
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Hemileuca nuttalli "species-data"
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Identification
Adults
Hemileuca hera is a very large, white, day-flying moth (FW length 34–37 mm; wingspan 6.5–9.2 cm) that flies in sage steppe habitats during late summer. Both fore- and hindwings have black markings against a pure white ground color, with black edges, smooth antemedial and postmedial lines, large ovoid discal spots, and triangular marks on the veins at the wing margin. Portions of the hindwing lack black marks in some individuals. The body is deep yellow, with black-ringed abdominal segments. The antennae are widely bipectinate in males and narrowly bipectinate in females.
This is the only Hemileuca with entirely white mostly white forewings and hindwings in our region. Consequently, it can be recognized easily by its large size, white color, and thick black markings. It is unlikely to be confused with any other species. Hemileuca nuttalli has a white forewing and is patterned with black; however, it has a bright yellow hindwing.
Populations of H. hera are divided into three subspecies by Ferguson (1971). Most of the Pacific Northwest has the nominate subspecies H. h. hera. The distinctive Hemileuca hera marcata (not illustrated) was described from Ft. Klamath, Klamath County, Oregon as Pseudohazis hera var. marcata Neumoegen. This subspecies might be more widely distributed in Oregon and northern California. It is larger and has more pointed wings than H. h. hera, and the black markings are reduced on the hindwings.
Larvae
The body is purplish-black with dorsal and subdorsal black spines. The spines are surrounded by whorls of orange hairs. The body is marked with three white longitudinal lines on each side. The larva is illustrated by Tuskes et al. (1996).
Habitat
This species is often common to abundant in subalpine sagebrush meadows at higher elevations in the Rocky Mountain region, Great Basin sagebrush rangelands at low elevations, as well as in pinyon-juniper woodlands at middle elevations east of the Cascades.
Distribution
Pacific Northwest
Hemileuca hera is found in sagebrush habitats in extreme southern British Columbia, the Columbia Basin, southern Oregon, and southern Idaho.
Global
Hemileuca hera is widely distributed in the American West. It occurs from southern British Colombia and northern Wyoming south to western Colorado, central Utah, and southeastern California.
Life History
Larvae
The eggs are layed in rings on twigs of the host plants. They overwinter and hatch in April and June. This species is a foodplant specialist on sand sagebrush and big sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) in the Asteraceae. Young caterpillars feed together but become solitary as they age. Loose cocoons are made in leaf litter or in soft soil.
Adults
Pacific Northwest specimens have been collected from mid-July to late September but are most commonly encountered during August. The adults are diurnal and have a rapid flight several meters off the ground making them difficult to catch. Like other members of the family Saturniidae they do not feed as adults.
Economic Importance
This species is of no economic importance.
Literature
Butterflies and Moths of North America
Ferguson (1971)
Peigler & Opler (1993)
Powell & Opler (2009)
Tuskes et al. (1996)
