Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 963164

Slosser's buckmoth
Hemileuca slosseri

Observation date: May 10, 2014
Submitted by: hutchison.whitney
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Hot,windy day near Andrews,Texas. Not found on any plant,plants near by are mesquite
Status: Resident
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 11, 2014
Coordinator notes: The ground color should be more yellow than green but there may be some variation as the figure in "he Wild Silk Moths of North America" (Tuskes, Tuttle, and Collins, 1996, plate3) shows a caterpillar similar in color to the sighting photo. Or perhaps the caterpillar has changed color in preparation for pupation, which seems possible given it was found wandering. The food plant is oak, including the low-growing shinnery oak Quercus harvardii. SAT
Checklist region(s): United States, Texas, Andrews County