DISTRIBUTON:

The Hemileuca peninsularis moth (wingspan: males: 41-52mm; females: 62-69mm) flies in Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Hemileuca peninsularis male, North central Baja California, Mexico, copyright Kirby Wolfe.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken from January to April. Larvae feed on Prosopis juliflora and probably on Prosopis velutina (DW).

Hemileuca peninsularis female copyright Kirby Wolfe

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Eclosions probably take place in the morning with females calling after dark.

Hemileuca peninsularis male, Baja, Mexico, courtesy of Chris Grinter.

Hemileuca peninsularis male, Mexico: Baja California., 0.7mi. south of Rancho San Martin. NE off of MX-1,
(29°37'42.92''N, 114°36'22.63''W), 727m, UV Light Trap. 24-25 February 2009, coll. C. Grinter, D. Wikle.

Hemileuca peninsularis male, Mexico: Baja California., 0.7mi. south of Rancho San Martin. NE off of MX-1,
(29°37'42.92''N, 114°36'22.63''W), 727m, UV Light Trap. 24-25 February 2009, coll. C. Grinter, D. Wikle.

Hemileuca peninsularis female, Baja, Mexico, courtesy of Chris Grinter.

Hemileuca peninsularis female, Mexico: Baja California., 0.7mi. south of Rancho San Martin. NE off of MX-1,
(29°37'42.92''N, 114°36'22.63''W), 727m, 9:00 am, sitting on bush, 24-25 February 2009, coll. C. Grinter, D. Wikle.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are laid in rings of 25-35 eggs/ring, or even many more as evidenced in this image from David Wikle.

David writes, "I believe the predominant Mesquite down there is Prosopis velutina, not P. juliflora. Last instar larvae can be found in Sept/Oct there. Not sure when they hatch out, but Chris Conlan says they take forever to finish up. They eat opportunistically (multiple hosts) in the last instars, like many other arid habitat Hemileucas."

Hemileuca peninsularis female, Baja California, 20KM S Catavina, Mexico,
April 2, 2011, courtesy of David Wikle.

Pupation is in a shallow underground chamber or under loose debris.

Hemileuca peninsularis larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

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.

Prosopis juliflora....... Prosopis velutina (DW)

Mesquite, Southwest thorn velvet mesquite

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