DISTRIBUTION:

Agapema homogena, the Rocky Mountain Agapema (wingspan: 2 7/8 - 3 7/8 inches), flies in forests above 4400 feet in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas south to Mexico City.

In Mexico it is reported from the states of
Chihuahua;
Distrito Federal;
Hidalgo;
Mexico: Ixtapaluca: Zoquiapan; Almoloya de Juárez: Rio Frio;
and Veracruz: Ixtaczoquitlán: Puente Metlac.

Other Mexican states where there are populations probably include Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato and Gueretaro.

Agapema homogena female and cocoon, SE Arizona, courtesy of Mike van Buskirk.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This single brooded species flies from May through July in the U.S. and from May through September in Mexico.

Larvae feed in groups on Rhamnus californica ursina (California coffeeberry), Salix exigua (Sandbar willow), and Ribes cereum (Wax currant).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Moths emerge in the morning and mate after sunset.

Female copyright Kirby Wolfe

EGGS,LARVAE,COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters on host plants. Gregarious larvae feed in large groups which become progressively smaller as larvae develop.

Larvae leave the host plant to pupate in any kind of crevice they can find. Pupae have been found in pine bark crevices, in man made structures, amongst leaf litter and other debris.

Listed below are the primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Rhamnus californicus..... Rhamnus frangula Ribes alpinum Ribes cereum Salix exigua

California coffee-berry Alder buckthorn Alpine currant Wax currant Sandbar willow

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