Electra buckmoth
Hemileuca electra W.G. Wright, 1884
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing is white with black margins, black at the base, and black-outlined cell spots. Upperside of hindwing is orange with black margins and a black cell spot. Moths from southern California have more black markings on the forewing, while those from central Arizona have redder hindwings and heavier black markings; some forewings are almost solid black.
Wing Span: 2 3/16 - 3 1/16 inches (5.6 - 7.8 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in early morning and mating takes place in mid-morning. In the afternoon, females lay eggs on dried flower heads or in rings around the stems of the host plants. Eggs overwinter and hatch from January-March. Young caterpillars feed together on new plant growth and when they are older they feed alone. In April or May fully-grown caterpillars spin loose cocoons in plant debris or in loose soil.
Flight: One brood from September-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Flat top buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) and Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum polifolium).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: California coastal scrub, deserts, and desert upland.
Range: Southwestern Utah, southeastern Nevada, and northwestern Arizona south to central Arizona, southern California, and Baja California Sur.
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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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 35 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 06, 2017
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
Observation date: Nov 11, 2019
Submitted by: Dovecenter
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 16, 2023
Observation date: Oct 23, 2022
Submitted by: TaggartCA
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Oct 26, 2022
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 05, 2022
Observation date: Mar 14, 2022
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 05, 2022
Observation date: Mar 08, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: May 02, 2022
Observation date: Oct 21, 2019
Submitted by: klu529
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Dec 21, 2021
Observation date: Nov 18, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Dec 06, 2021
Observation date: Oct 11, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Oct 14, 2021
Observation date: Oct 11, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Oct 14, 2021
Observation date: Nov 29, 2014
Submitted by: robinson_michae...
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Nov 30, 2014
Observation date: Sep 19, 2014
Submitted by: MrThornton
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Sep 20, 2014
Observation date: Oct 02, 2013
Submitted by: kitty.oi
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Oct 07, 2013
Observation date: Oct 20, 2011
Submitted by: Bill Truesdell
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jun 21, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 25, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Sep 29, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jan 30, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Mar 11, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kenneth C. Hansen)
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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