Electra buckmoth
Hemileuca electra W.G. Wright, 1884
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing is white with black margins, black at the base, and black-outlined cell spots. Upperside of hindwing is orange with black margins and a black cell spot. Moths from southern California have more black markings on the forewing, while those from central Arizona have redder hindwings and heavier black markings; some forewings are almost solid black.
Wing Span: 2 3/16 - 3 1/16 inches (5.6 - 7.8 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in early morning and mating takes place in mid-morning. In the afternoon, females lay eggs on dried flower heads or in rings around the stems of the host plants. Eggs overwinter and hatch from January-March. Young caterpillars feed together on new plant growth and when they are older they feed alone. In April or May fully-grown caterpillars spin loose cocoons in plant debris or in loose soil.
Flight: One brood from September-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Flat top buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) and Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum polifolium).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: California coastal scrub, deserts, and desert upland.
Range: Southwestern Utah, southeastern Nevada, and northwestern Arizona south to central Arizona, southern California, and Baja California Sur.
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: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 35 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ad_2017-03-06_356.jpg?itok=sa4aGQz4)
Observation date: Mar 06, 2017
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/moth_3_60.jpg?itok=gukgZLtH)
Observation date: Nov 11, 2019
Submitted by: Dovecenter
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 16, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/62ef8b58-feef-40c8-a55a-ebd9d855750e.jpeg?itok=Xqhpcln0)
Observation date: Oct 23, 2022
Submitted by: TaggartCA
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Oct 26, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p2070451pp-denoise.jpg?itok=AEeN-X1z)
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 05, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p2100246-denoise.jpg?itok=ES1IVxXB)
Observation date: Mar 14, 2022
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 05, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1240921.jpg?itok=7pJZvArM)
Observation date: Mar 08, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: May 02, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2019-10-21.jpg?itok=VOLk_50Q)
Observation date: Oct 21, 2019
Submitted by: klu529
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: mcduck
Verified date: Dec 21, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1230447_0.jpg?itok=_dsokQES)
Observation date: Nov 18, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Dec 06, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1210549.jpg?itok=GchwhKvi)
Observation date: Oct 11, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Oct 14, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1210462.jpg?itok=TDpw8O7u)
Observation date: Oct 11, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: ishaan2009
Verified date: Oct 14, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/irvine_moth_1.jpg?itok=8_5KCC82)
Observation date: Nov 29, 2014
Submitted by: robinson_michae...
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Nov 30, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/thornton-moth.jpg?itok=mrMZjab_)
Observation date: Sep 19, 2014
Submitted by: MrThornton
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Sep 20, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/image_1593.jpg?itok=5aCqPaR-)
Observation date: Oct 02, 2013
Submitted by: kitty.oi
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Josiah Gilbert
Verified date: Oct 07, 2013
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1697.jpg?itok=19Q75b8B)
Observation date: Oct 20, 2011
Submitted by: Bill Truesdell
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jun 21, 2012
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/hemielec.jpg?itok=AIIGQVbO)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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Observation date: Sep 29, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Jan 30, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Gila County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Mar 11, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kenneth C. Hansen)
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Oct 25, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Imperial County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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