Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Oculea silkmoth
Antheraea oculea (Neumoegen, 1883)


Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Saturniinae
Identification: Upperside of wings is tan, sometimes with a yellowish or reddish tint. Forewing margin is the same color as the basal area; submarginal line is black. Rings around the eyespots are orange, blue, and black. Underside has contrasting rust, brown, and white markings.
Wing Span: 3 15/16 - 5 7/8 inches (10 - 15 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge from their cocoons in the afternoon, and mating takes place in late evening or early morning. Females lay eggs during the following evenings, depositing clusters of 3-8 eggs on the host plants. Caterpillars eat leaves and spin large cocoons in the leaves of the host plant.
Flight: One brood from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Oaks and walnuts including Emory oak (Quercus emoryi), Mexican blue oak (Q. oblongifolia), and Arizona black walnut (Juglans major).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Oak woodland and mixed forest.
Range: Southwestern corner of New Mexico through the mountains of southern Arizona north to Flagstaff and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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