Western Sheep Moth
Common NameWestern Sheep Moth
Scientific NameHemileuca eglanterina
FamilySaturniidae
SubfamilySaturniinae
Wingspan (mm)65
Primary Colorspink, orange, black
HabitatOpen woodlands, chaparral, shrublands, sagebrush steppe, mountain meadows
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to California and east to the Rocky Mountains
Host PlantsCeanothus, Rosa, Purshia, Prunus, Salix, Quercus
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in late summer/fall and overwinter. Larvae are spiny, gregarious, and feed on various shrubs, pupating in a loose cocoon underground or in leaf litter before adults emerge in late summer.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive combination of pink and orange wings with bold black markings and a black eyespot on the forewings. Its diurnal flight and fuzzy, yellowish-orange body are also key indicators.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with a fuzzy, yellowish-orange body. Its wings display a striking pattern of bright pink and orange, heavily marked with broad black bands and a prominent black eyespot on each forewing.
