Home

Species Detail

Rocky Mountain agapema

Agapema homogena Dyar, 1908

JPG -- species photo

Attributes of Agapema homogena


Family: Wild Silk Moths (Saturniidae)

Subfamily: Giant Silkworm Moths (Saturniinae)

Identification: Wings are gray to blackish brown with light brown margins, median lines, and forewing costa. The forewing eyespot does not touch the median line.

Life history: Adults emerge in the morning and mate after sunset. Females lay eggs on host plants in large clusters. The caterpillars feed in large groups, but divide into smaller groups as they grow. Fourth-stage caterpillars leave the host plants and make tightly woven cocoons in crevices of tree trunks, rocks, and structures such as picnic tables.

Flight: One brood; from May-July in the United States, from May-September in Mexico.

Wing span: 2 7/8 - 3 7/8 inches (7.4 - 9.4 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: California coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica ursina), sandbar willow (Salix exigua), and wax currant (Ribes cereum).

Adult food: Adults do not feed.

Habitat: Forests above 4400 feet in elevation.

Range: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas south to Mexico City, Mexico.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

Documented Records for Agapema homogena



Display alternate map range: