Tricolor buckmoth
Hemileuca tricolor (Packard, 1872)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Females are larger and darker than males. Upperside of forewing is gray to brownish gray with white marginal, submedian, and postmedian bands. The submarginal area may be lighter colored than the rest of the wing. Upperside of hindwing is white in males and white to pale brown in females; females usually have a pink tint.
Wing Span: 2 1/8 - 3 1/8 inches (5.2 - 7.8 cm).
Life History: Mating begins after dark and females may begin laying eggs immediately after. Eggs are deposited in rings around twigs of the host plants, and hatch in July. Young caterpillars feed together. Before pupating fully-grown caterpillars wander around on the ground and then make loose cocoons of debris and silk in which they pupate and overwinter.
Flight: One flight from January-April.
Caterpillar Hosts: Littleleaf paloverde (Cercidium microphyllum), mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), and catclaw acacia (Acacia greggii).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Desert thornscrub.
Range: Southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, south into Mexico.
Conservation: United States populations should be inventoried 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 - 21 of 21 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 30, 2023
Submitted by: Mmaryolearyy
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 18, 2024
Observation date: Dec 28, 2018
Submitted by: birderrose
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Aug 16, 2019
Observation date: Mar 26, 2015
Submitted by: jlboone@aol.com
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jul 18, 2015
Observation date: Mar 18, 2015
Submitted by: mesquite
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Apr 22, 2015
Observation date: Apr 16, 2003
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 15, 2014
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: Feb 02, 1999
Submitted by: hgbyrne (Bill Mooney & Howard Byrne)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Feb 15, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kenneth C. Hansen)
Region: Pima 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: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Baja California Norte, Mexico
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: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, 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
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: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004