Range caterpillar moth
Hemileuca oliviae T.D.A. Cockerell, 1898
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Females are darker and much larger than males. Upperside of wings is tan to light brown; wings of female may have a pink tint. Forewing has a light brown costa and a faint median band.
Wing Span: 1 7/8 - 2 15/16 inches (4.7 - 7.5 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in the late morning and mate after dusk. Females lay rings of eggs around the stems of both host and nonhost plants. Eggs overwinter and hatch the following May or June. Young caterpillars feed in groups while older caterpillars are solitary feeders. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate in loose cocoons under a shrub or in tied-together grass blades.
Flight: One brood from September-December.
Caterpillar Hosts: Grama grass (Bouteloua oligostachya) is the favorite, but other grasses are eaten including hairy mesquite grass (B. hirsuta), buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides), Texas timothy (Lycurus phleoides), and bromegrass (Bromus polyanthus).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Grasslands.
Range: East-central New Mexico; northeastern New Mexico and nearby areas of Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas; Chihuahua, Mexico.
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: During periodic outbreaks caterpillar feeding can cause much damage to rangeland by reducing forage for livestock and encouraging erosion. The stinging hairs of the caterpillars can irritate livestock.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 06, 2021
Submitted by: Jennifer Acampora
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2023
Observation date: Apr 27, 2018
Submitted by: becire
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2016
Submitted by: cactuscam
Region: Mora County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: apan123
Verified date: Aug 31, 2016
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: De Baca County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Moore County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Las Animas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cimarron County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Guadalupe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mora County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Finney County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Torrance County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dallam County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Huerfano County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Harding County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chihuahua, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004