Coastal Barrens Buck Moth
Common NameCoastal Barrens Buck Moth
Scientific NameHemileuca maia maia
FamilySaturniidae
SubfamilySaturniinae
Wingspan (mm)65
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsblack, white, orange, yellow
HabitatCoastal barrens, heathlands, scrub oak woodlands
Geographic RangeNova Scotia (Canada), historically parts of northeastern United States
Host Plantsoak (Quercus spp.)
Flight PeriodLate September to November
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesThis moth is univoltine, meaning it has one generation per year. Eggs are laid in the fall and overwinter, hatching in the spring. Larvae feed on oak leaves, pupate in the soil, and adults emerge in the fall.
Identification TipsLook for its distinctive black and white striped wings with a small yellow mark, a very fuzzy body with black, white, and orange hairs, and its unusual diurnal flight during the late fall months.
Description
A medium-sized, fuzzy moth with black wings featuring a prominent white band and a small yellow mark on the forewing. Its body is densely covered in black, white, and orange hairs, with distinctive feathery antennae.
