Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4
Hemileuca slosseri
This record describes Hemileuca slosseri (species). Recorded family: Saturniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
considered by Oklahoma to be a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) ( 4 )
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
Geographic Range
Southeastern New Mexico and western Texas to western Oklahoma. , Map (MPG) - shows incomplete range
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from early November through December (which is thought to be associated with the first freeze of the season). ( 3 ) Eggs overwinter and hatch in April. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Harvard oak ( Quercus havardii , Fagaceae) ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Hemileuca slosseri Peigler & Stone, 1989
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hemileuca slosseri. 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 slosseri - Hodges#7744.4 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4
What is Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4?
Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4 (Hemileuca slosseri) is a species in the family Saturniidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4?
forewing length: 26-38 mm
Where is Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4 found?
Range: Southeastern New Mexico and western Texas to western Oklahoma. , Map (MPG) - shows incomplete range
What does Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4 eat?
The diet of the Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4 includes Larval host is Harvard oak ( Quercus havardii , Fagaceae) ( 3 ).
When is Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4 active?
Hemileuca slosseri - Hodges#7744.4: seasonal activity - Adults fly from early November through December (which is thought to be associated with the first freeze of the season). ( 3 ) Eggs overwinter and hatch in April. ( 3 ).