Hemileuca magnifica - Hodges#7742
Hemileuca magnifica
This record describes Hemileuca magnifica (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
- Hemileuca
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Sagebrush areas
Geographic Range
Replaces H. hera southward in southern Utah, southern Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Woody Artemisia species, primarily A. filifolia , but others such as A. tridentata in areas where A. filifolia is absent (particularly in the San Luis Valley and in the mountains).
Life History
Much as in H. hera . Eggs overwinter and hatch in spring (often with rains). Adults emerge mostly in July or August (sometimes later), do not feed, and lay eggs in rings on the host plants. At high elevations pupae overwinter a second winter and adults emerge in spring if their second (or later?) season. There is some evidence that pupae, and maybe eggs can remain dormant for several years.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Rotger, 1948
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hemileuca magnifica. 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 Hemileuca magnifica - Hodges#7742 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , JohnMaxwell22
Frequently Asked Questions About Hemileuca magnifica - Hodges#7742
Where is Hemileuca magnifica - Hodges#7742 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Sagebrush areas |
| Range | Replaces H. hera southward in southern Utah, southern Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. |
What does Hemileuca magnifica - Hodges#7742 eat?
The diet of the Hemileuca magnifica - Hodges#7742 includes Woody Artemisia species, primarily A. filifolia , but others such as A. tridentata in areas where A. filifolia is absent (particularly in the San Luis Valley and in the mountains)..
What is the life cycle of a Hemileuca magnifica - Hodges#7742?
Much as in H. hera . Eggs overwinter and hatch in spring (often with rains). Adults emerge mostly in July or August (sometimes later), do not feed, and lay eggs in rings on the host plants. At high elevations pupae overwinter a second winter and adults emerge in spring if their second (or later?) season. There is some evidence that pupae, and maybe eggs can remain dormant for several years.