Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Zephyr eyed silkmoth
Automeris zephyria Grote, 1882


Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Females are larger than males. Upperside of forewing is dark brown to grayish or reddish brown with a distinct white line running diagonally from the wing tip to the inner margin. Hindwing has a large black eyespot in an orange patch.
Wing Span: 3 1/8 - 4 1/8 inches (8 - 10.4 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs in clusters on the host plant. Young caterpillars feed in groups while older caterpillars are solitary feeders. In late August and September, fully-grown caterpillars spin cocoons in plant litter in which they pupate and overwinter.
Flight: One brood from May-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Willows (Salix) and probably others.
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Pinyon-juniper woodland and conifer forest above 4800 feet elevation.
Range: Mountains of central New Mexico south into the Guadalupe Mountains of west Texas.
Conservation: Populations should be inventoried to determine conservation status.
NCGR: GU - Unable to assign rank due to lack of available information.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL