Global InformationHemileuca lucina information
| New England buck moth | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Saturniidae |
| Genus: | Hemileuca |
| Species: | H. lucina
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hemileuca lucina H. Edwards, 1887
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Hemileuca lucina, the New England buck moth, is a species of moth in the family Saturniidae. This moth species is only found in the New England region of the United States. Larvae in early stages mainly feed on broadleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea latifolia) whereas larvae in later stages show variation in food sources such as blackberry and black cherry leaves.[1] Larvae have a black body with orange/black spines on their back that are used to deter predators.[2] Pupation occurs during the summer and adult moths come out around September.[3]
Adult females are usually bigger than males. Both males and females have dark colored bodies and wide white bands on their wings that are similarly observed in their sister species, Hemileuca maia.[3]
The flight season for adult Hemileuca lucina is in September and it lasts around two weeks. Females secrete a pheromone to attract the males and once they pair up, they copulate for about one to two hours. Hemileuca lucina is univoltine, meaning that it has one brood per year. Females lay eggs on the twig of their host plants that look like a tightly packed ring.[3]
H. lucina larvae are subject to prey by wasps, stinkbugs, and certain types of spiders. There is a tachinid fly and ichneumonid wasp that are parasitoids of caterpillars as well.[4][5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Ovipositionwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Bowerswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Tuskeswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Stamp parawas invoked but never defined (see the help page).