New England buckmoth
Hemileuca lucina Hy. Edwards, 1887
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Females are larger than males. Male abdomen is black with a red tip, female abdomen is black. Upperside of wings is gray with narrow black borders, black at the wing bases, and wide translucent white bands.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 3/8 inches (4.5 - 6 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in the early morning and mate in the early afternoon. Females lay eggs circling a main stem that will expose the eggs to sun. Eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring. Young caterpillars feed in clusters and older ones feed alone. Fully-grown caterpillars wander and make loose cocoons in leaf litter or a few inches underground in soft soil.
Flight: One brood from September-October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Oaks (Quercus), wild black cherry (Prunus serotina), willows (Salix), gray birch (Betula populifolia), and blueberry (Vaccinium).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Wet meadows and open fields.
Range: Southern Maine, New Hampshire, southeastern Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Conservation: Populations should be inventoried and monitored to determine conservation status.
NCGR: GU - Unable to assign rank due to lack of available information.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 29 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 09, 2023
Submitted by: Mothstar
Region: Knox County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
Observation date: Sep 19, 2017
Submitted by: Donna Hudson
Region: Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 03, 2017
Observation date: Jul 07, 2017
Submitted by: donna.larson
Region: Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 14, 2017
Observation date: Sep 21, 2016
Submitted by: sillymom5
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Oct 26, 2016
Observation date: Sep 17, 2015
Submitted by: julie.murray12
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 30, 2015
Observation date: Jul 25, 2015
Submitted by: bauersteven
Region: Ulster County, New York, United States
Verified by: lisald100
Verified date: Jul 29, 2015
Observation date: Jul 05, 2015
Submitted by: macmcb
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 07, 2015
Observation date: Jul 06, 2012
Submitted by: mikeakresh
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 24, 2012
Observation date: Jun 19, 2012
Submitted by: muscari
Region: Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 08, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tolland County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Windham County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: York County, Maine, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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