Lusk's pinemoth
Coloradia luski Barnes & Benjamin, 1926
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Variable. Upperside gray-black patterned with white; hindwings are dark gray with small diffuse spots and pink at the wing bases and inner margins. Male forewings range from pale gray with pink and black markings to almost black. Translucent hindwings range from gray to white with very faint black spots and pink at the wing bases and inner margins.
Wing Span: 2 3/16 - 3 11/16 inches (5.6 - 8.8 cm).
Life History: Females lay batches of eggs at the base of pine needles; the eggs hatch in about 3 weeks. Young caterpillars are gregarious, with 3-5 caterpillars feeding together on the same pine needle. Older caterpillars feed alone. Caterpillars spin loose cocoons under the soil surface in which they pupate and overwinter.
Flight: One brood from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Probably ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and other pines.
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Pine forests at 6000-7500 feet.
Range: Mountains in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Sonora, Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 06, 2023
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 08, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 02, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Aug 05, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jun 30, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chihuahua, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004