Griffin's sheepmoth
Hemileuca griffini Tuskes, 1978
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Male abdomen is black with a red tip, female abdomen is banded with red and black. Upperside of wings is white with narrow black markings.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 3 inches (4.4 - 7.6 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in early morning and mate in late morning. Females lay eggs in early afternoon in bands around twigs of the host plant. Eggs overwinter and hatch in April; the young caterpillars feed together and when older they feed alone. Fully-grown caterpillars may wander for 2-4 days before making loose cocoons under plant debris or in sandy soil.
Flight: One flight from August-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: High desert scrub.
Range: Southern Utah south to central Arizona, west to southern Nevada.
Conservation: Populations should be inventoried and monitored to determine conservation status and impact of grazing on habitat.
NCGR:
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Thank you!
We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 verified sightings
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: May 20, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Coconino 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: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Garfield County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Kane County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004