Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745
Automeris randa
This record describes Automeris randa (species). Recorded family: Saturniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)
- Subfamily
- Hemileucinae
- Tribe
- Hemileucini
- Genus
- Automeris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
arid montane forests (usually oak dominant)
Geographic Range
se. Arizona, sw. New Mexico, south into central and western Mexico Distribution is patchy and populations are widely distributed in montainous areas
Seasonal Activity
in the sw. USA the adult flight period is usually associated with the late summer rains adults can be collected between late July & early August Males are readily attracted to lights and fly between 1:30 am - 3:00 am
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Captive notes: early instar larvae seem to prefer and feed almost exclusively on oaks, Quercus spp. late instar larvae will eat beech, chestnut and occasionally privet.
Life History
eggs laid singly or in clusters on the host plant (twigs, branches, & leaves) larvae may be abundant between August & October (5 instars take approx. 6 to 8 weeks to mature and pupate) Seem to over winter as pupae in silk cocoons The silk cocoon is similar in size and texture to that of Actias luna (thin and papery). The cocoon is spun in leaf litter on the ground or falls to the ground with the hosts leaves in fall. adult eclosion occurs the following year there may be more than one generation annually depending on area
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Automeris randa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Bill Reynolds; Additional contributions by Bob Patterson
Frequently Asked Questions About Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745
Where is Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | arid montane forests (usually oak dominant) |
| Range | se. Arizona, sw. New Mexico, south into central and western Mexico Distribution is patchy and populations are widely distributed in montainous areas |
What does Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745 eat?
The diet of the Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745 includes Captive notes: early instar larvae seem to prefer and feed almost exclusively on oaks, Quercus spp. late instar larvae will eat beech, chestnut and occasionally privet..
When is Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745 active?
Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745: seasonal activity - in the sw. USA the adult flight period is usually associated with the late summer rains adults can be collected between late July & early August Males are readily attracted to lights and fly between 1:30 am - 3:00 am.
What is the life cycle of a Rand's Eyed Silk Moth - Hodges#7745?
eggs laid singly or in clusters on the host plant (twigs, branches, & leaves) larvae may be abundant between August & October (5 instars take approx. 6 to 8 weeks to mature and pupate) Seem to over winter as pupae in silk cocoons The silk cocoon is similar in size and texture to that of Actias luna (thin and papery). The cocoon is spun in leaf litter on the ground or falls to the ground with the hosts leaves in fall. adult eclosion occurs the following year there may be more than one generation annually depending on area