Hera buckmoth
Hemileuca hera (Harris, 1841)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Wings are white with black markings including a black crescent-shaped cell spot on each wing. Subspecies marcata (southern Oregon and northern California) has the black markings much reduced. Subspecies magnifica (northeastern Arizona, northern New Mexico, southern Colorado) is larger than the others and has darker, heavier markings.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 3 5/8 inches (7.1 - 9.3 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in early morning and are day fliers, mating in late morning. Females lay eggs in rings around twigs of host plants. Eggs overwinter and hatch from April-June. Young caterpillars feed together while older ones feed alone. Fully-grown caterpillars overwinter in loose cocoons in the leaf litter or in burrows in soft soil. Adults emerge from July-September, but at high elevations and northern latitudes, the cocoons overwinter and adults emerge in the spring.
Flight:
Caterpillar Hosts: Basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and sand sagebrush (A. filifolia).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Great Basin sagebrush communities, pinyon-juniper woodland, and subalpine sagebrush meadows.
Range: Great Basin area from southwestern Saskatchewan west to southeastern British Columbia; south to western Colorado, central Utah, and central Nevada. Subspecies marcata is in southern Oregon and northern California, while subspecies magnifica occurs in northeastern Arizona, northern New Mexico, and southern Colorado.
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 49 - 72 of 135 verified sightings
Observation date: May 02, 2014
Submitted by: davidwdroppers
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 05, 2014
Observation date: Jun 16, 2011
Submitted by: gordon warrick
Region: Adams County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 03, 2014
Observation date: Jun 05, 2012
Submitted by: carrie.munill
Region: Baker County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Feb 22, 2014
Observation date: Aug 23, 2013
Submitted by: indigo
Region: Pershing County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Feb 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 18, 2012
Submitted by: jim.odonater
Region: Malheur County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jan 04, 2014
Observation date: Aug 24, 2013
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Sep 09, 2013
Observation date: Aug 22, 2013
Submitted by: The Wiser Gal
Region: Benton County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 01, 2013
Observation date: Jun 18, 2013
Submitted by: IdahoJane
Region: Malheur County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 20, 2013
Observation date: Jul 15, 2006
Submitted by: Sherik
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Aug 01, 2013
Observation date: Aug 24, 2008
Submitted by: Sherik
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Aug 01, 2013
Observation date: Jun 30, 2013
Submitted by: Sherik
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Aug 01, 2013
Observation date: Jul 27, 2012
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 09, 2013
Observation date: Aug 01, 2011
Submitted by: grantloy
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Apr 18, 2012
Observation date: Jul 24, 2010
Submitted by: hjbarkey9
Region: Routt County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Feb 12, 2012
Observation date: Aug 17, 2007
Submitted by: Tom Munson
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 20, 2011
Observation date: Aug 12, 2010
Submitted by: bwaterbury
Region: Clark County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: May 03, 2011
Observation date: Aug 19, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sarah A. Bucklin)
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: Apr 19, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 25, 2009
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner (Dwaine Wagoner)
Region: Converse County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2009
Observation date: Aug 29, 2006
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner (Dwaine Wagoner)
Region: Niobrara County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2009
Observation date: Jul 25, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Maia)
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Verified date: Aug 21, 2009
Observation date: Jul 02, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jun 05, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
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