DISTRIBUTION:

Griffin's Sheepmoth, Hemileuca griffini, (Tuskes 1978), (wingspan: males: 45-58mm; females: 46-57mm), flies in high desert scrub in Southern Utah south to central Arizona, west to southern Nevada.

Black brush habitat for Hemileuca griffini, courtesy of Russell Witkop, Hwy 191,
6 miles south of Mexican Hat, Utah, left side (E) of highway on pullout.

Hemileuca griffini male, Mexican Hat, San Juan Co., Utah,
46mm, September 10, 1977, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

The male's abdomen is black with a red tip; the female's abdomen is banded with red and black. The upperside of all wings is white with narrow black markings.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species flies from mid August-October.

Larvae feed on Amelanchier, Cercocarpus betuloides, Coleogyne ramosissima and Ephedra.

Hemileuca griffini pair, Page, Arizona, September 2007, courtesy of Matt Curtis.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females make their ovipositing flights in the early afternoon.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Females lay eggs in early afternoon in bands around twigs of the host plant. Eggs overwinter (if kept cool) and hatch in April; the young caterpillars feed together and when older they feed alone. Fully-grown caterpillars may wander for 2-4 days before making loose cocoons under plant debris or in sandy soil. Sprinkling pupae with some water helps to prevent desiccation.

Hemileuca griffini second instar, courtesy of Russell Witkop.

Hemileuca griffini third or fourth instar, courtesy of Russell Witkop.

Hemileuca griffini on blackbrush, Bitter Springs, Arizona,
May 22, 1985, courtesy of Jim Tuttle.

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.

Amelanchier Cercocarpus betuloides....... Coleogyne ramosissima Ephedra

Serviceberry Birchleaf cercocarpus Blackbrush Mormon-tea

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

Hemileuca, the genus name, was possibly chosen for the white (leuca) band dividing the forewing of the genus specimen type, Hemileuc maia, in half (hemi). There is also a pale wedge dividing the forewing cell in half.

The species name griffini is honourific for Griffin.

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