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 49 - 72 of 117 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 02, 2012
Submitted by: atalayamtn
Region: California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Nov 27, 2012
Observation date: Jul 05, 2012
Submitted by: DavidSchneider
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Oct 02, 2012
Observation date: Aug 17, 2012
Submitted by: mfewell
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2012
Observation date: Jul 31, 2012
Submitted by: Pvp2
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2012
Observation date: Aug 27, 2011
Submitted by: Matt ODonnell
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 16, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Aug 30, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 26, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Navajo County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hudspeth County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Baja California Norte, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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