DISTRIBUTION:

Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis (wingspan: males: 62-78mm; females: 57-75mm) flies in the Cascade Mountains of southern Oregon and northern California and into southern Washington.

Some specimens (usualy at higher elevations) have extremely dark forewings and hindwings, making usual pronounced black markings on wings almost indiscernible from ground colour. Most specimens have distinguishing purple shading on forewings.

Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis, Lookout Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest,
Skamania County, Washington, July 16, 2006, courtesy of John Davis.

Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis male, courtesy of Jonathon Tubbs.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species flies from late June until late August at elevations between 4000-7500 feet.

Larvae feed on Purshia tridentata, but will also accept Cercocarpa betuloides (mountain mahogany) and probably Prunus (cherry).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Both males and females are day fliers, with adults on the wing from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis fifth instar, Mt. Shasta, Siskiyou County, California,
August 17, 2008, 6500 feet, courtesy of Richard Wasson.

Richard reports, "The larva was found on Mt. Shasta, Siskiyou County, California at about elevation 6500 feet. I collected eighteen caterpillars of H. eglanterina shastaensis feeding on bitter brush (Purshia tridentata) on the first week of July 2008. The adults were flying at the same time the larvae were out feeding."

This species has a two year life cycle.

Eggs, deposited in the summer June-July of one year (2006), overwinter with larvae hatching the following spring, May-June, (2007). Larvae feed, mature and pupate that summer and fall (2007), and eclose as adult moths in June-July of the following year (2008).

This species will hybridize with nominate eglanterina.

Hemileuca eglanterina shastaensis typical melanic male, Mt. Shasta, Siskiyou County, California,
6500 feet, courtesy of Richard Wasson.

Larval Food Plants

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.

Cercocarpa betuloides ....... Prunus ?? Purshia tridentata

Mountain Mahogany Cherry Bitterbrush

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