Gulf Coast Buck Moth
Common NameGulf Coast Buck Moth
Scientific NameHemileuca maia
FamilySaturniidae
SubfamilyHemileucinae
Wingspan (mm)65
Primary Colorsblack, white, orange
HabitatOak woodlands, pine barrens, coastal plains, open forests
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (Gulf Coast states)
Host Plantsoak (Quercus spp.)
Flight PeriodOctober to December
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in rings on host plant twigs and overwinter. Larvae are spiny, black, and gregarious, feeding on oak leaves in spring and early summer before pupating in the soil. Adults emerge in late fall.
Identification TipsLook for its distinctive black and white banded wings with small eyespots, the fuzzy black, white, and orange body (especially the orange abdomen), and its characteristic diurnal flight during late autumn. It is often found near oak trees.
Description
A medium-sized, day-flying moth with velvety black wings marked by a broad, irregular white band containing a small yellow crescent. Its robust body is densely covered in black, white, and bright orange hairs, particularly on the abdomen.
