Pandora pinemoth
Coloradia pandora Blake, 1863
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Upperside white. Hindwing is white with a diffuse dark median line, a black spot near the center, and varying amounts of pink at the wing base and along the inner margin.
Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 3 7/8 inches (8.2 - 9.8 cm).
Life History: Females deposit eggs in groups on pine needles or on the tree trunk; eggs hatch within 3-7 weeks. Young caterpillars are gregarious, with 3-5 caterpillars feeding together on the same pine needle. Older caterpillars feed alone. Two years are required to complete development. Second- or third-stage caterpillars overwinter the first year in tight clusters, resume feeding in the spring, pupate in June or July, and spend the second winter in underground pupation chambers lined with silk and plant litter. Some can remain in the pupal stage for up to 5 years before emerging as adults.
Flight: One flight from July-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Jeffrey pine (P. jeffreyi), lodgepole pine (P. contorta), sugar pine (P. lambertiana), pinyon pine (P. edulis), and Coulter pine (P. coulteri).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Coniferous forest.
Range: Oregon south through California; the Spring Mountains of western Nevada; northern Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the Nebraska National Forest, Nebraska. Comments: Subspecies davisi feeds on pinyon pine, has a late flight, and may be a separate species.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Caterpillars occasionally become pests in pine forests.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 117 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 01, 2016
Submitted by: mcb993
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 06, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2018
Submitted by: Sharon Kay
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 21, 2018
Submitted by: dnrzoo
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: cfkeller
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: apan123
Verified date: Sep 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: PeteC
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Oct 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 08, 2017
Submitted by: BillyPaul89
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Aug 02, 2017
Observation date: Sep 05, 2015
Submitted by: Matthew97
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Sep 07, 2015
Observation date: Jul 28, 2014
Submitted by: jim.odonater
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 13, 2015
Observation date: Jul 08, 2015
Submitted by: Chinarainwater
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jul 12, 2015
Observation date: Jul 28, 2014
Submitted by: jim.odonater
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 10, 2015
Observation date: Jul 24, 2014
Submitted by: coreyk
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Sep 24, 2014
Observation date: Jul 23, 2014
Submitted by: jim.odonater
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Aug 25, 2014
Observation date: Aug 05, 2014
Submitted by: donya19
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Aug 08, 2014
Observation date: Jul 25, 2014
Submitted by: Ubiyen
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jul 26, 2014
Observation date: Jul 12, 2011
Submitted by: Ubiyen
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jul 26, 2014
Observation date: Jul 10, 2012
Submitted by: Ubiyen
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Jul 26, 2014
Observation date: Jul 22, 2014
Submitted by: suzannefry
Region: Lake County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Jul 24, 2014
Observation date: Aug 14, 2013
Submitted by: Mtnrunner
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Apr 30, 2014
Observation date: Aug 31, 2013
Submitted by: swordmaker1968
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Apr 30, 2014
Observation date: Aug 24, 2013
Submitted by: JLorraine
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Apr 30, 2014
Observation date: Aug 25, 2013
Submitted by: sprager
Region: Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Feb 09, 2014
Observation date: Sep 02, 2013
Submitted by: ohefler
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Oct 15, 2013
Observation date: Aug 07, 2013
Submitted by: jackford
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Sep 21, 2013
Observation date: Jul 10, 2013
Submitted by: charlieW9fBLihq02J
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Aug 19, 2013
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