Calleta silkmoth
Eupackardia calleta (Westwood, 1853)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Saturniinae
Identification: Body is black with a red collar and red on the rear of the thorax. Wings are black with conspicuous white postmedian lines, which are wider in females. Triangular white spots on the wings range from large to almost absent.
Wing Span: 3 1/8 - 4 5/16 inches (8 - 11 cm).
Life History: Adult moths emerge in the evening and begin mating the next morning, as early as 7:30 AM until about noon. Females lay eggs beginning at dusk on the same day. Eggs are deposited in clumps on both surfaces of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars feed gregariously and older caterpillars are solitary feeders. The cocoon is attached to a twig by a short silken loop and is usually spun near the ground and often in shade.
Flight: In the southeastern mountains of Arizona, one brood from July-August; from central Arizona to Mexico, one brood from October-January; in South Texas, two broods from September-November and March-April.
Caterpillar Hosts: Ceniza (Leucophyllum frutescens), ash (Fraxinus), Mexican jumping bean (Sapium biloculare), and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Thorn scrub, foothills and canyons of desert mountain ranges, and dry desert.
Range: The Rio Grande Valley and Big Bend areas of Texas; southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico south to Veracruz, Mexico; Guatemala.
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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 74 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 22, 2019
Submitted by: Aggielacie
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 23, 2019
Observation date: Nov 28, 2018
Submitted by: Kat20002006
Region: Texas, United States, Uvalde County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 27, 2019
Observation date: Jan 18, 2019
Submitted by: Tom1186
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 19, 2019
Observation date: Nov 22, 2018
Submitted by: marley
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 22, 2018
Observation date: Nov 19, 2018
Submitted by: egcompton
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Sep 28, 2018
Submitted by: Martyotero
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Sep 25, 2018
Submitted by: lisadawna
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Sep 25, 2018
Submitted by: Rootscrazy
Region: Texas, Medina County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Sep 28, 2018
Submitted by: celticbluerose77
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Oct 01, 2018
Submitted by: coady_mier@yahoo.com
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 02, 2018
Observation date: Apr 25, 2018
Submitted by: CoastandCactus
Region: Bee County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 25, 2018
Observation date: Apr 01, 2018
Submitted by: Jeskarpen
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 02, 2018
Observation date: Mar 23, 2018
Submitted by: DonSATX
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 24, 2018
Observation date: Oct 05, 2013
Submitted by: mako252
Region: Texas, San Patricio County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 03, 2018
Observation date: Oct 12, 2017
Submitted by: kadeco60
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 14, 2017
Observation date: Feb 24, 2017
Submitted by: Jogeeg2
Region: Texas, United States, Victoria County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 12, 2017
Observation date: Sep 30, 2017
Submitted by: bevlee
Region: Texas, San Patricio County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 04, 2017
Observation date: Sep 27, 2017
Submitted by: lrfh06
Region: Bee County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 27, 2017
Observation date: Jul 15, 2016
Submitted by: Nicki Lucas
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 04, 2017
Observation date: Sep 22, 2016
Submitted by: Canyonwren2
Region: Texas, Medina County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 22, 2016
Observation date: Aug 09, 2016
Submitted by: skayorton
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 19, 2016
Observation date: Apr 24, 2016
Submitted by: riazins
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 25, 2016
Observation date: Apr 12, 2016
Submitted by: m.andres8310
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 14, 2016
Observation date: May 05, 2015
Submitted by: Kkat
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 06, 2015
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