Nuttall's Sheepmoth

Hemileuca nuttalli

Habitat

Status

Red List

Description

Nuttall's Sheep Moths are large Giant Silk Moths and can have wingspans nearly 3 inches across. The wings are a bright orange-yellow at the bottom, gradually morphing into creamy white on the top. The wings have two thick black stripes that curves through the middle of the wings and there is a black eyespot on each wing with a white center. The body is yellow orange. Caterpillars are black and spiny and can reach 5.5 cm (2in) in length.
Sheep Moths are also sometimes called Buck Moths

Nuttall's Sheep Moths are found in the brunchgrass shrub-steppe on dry open slopes at low elevation. The larvae require antelope-brush and snowberry species.

Threats

You Can Help!

-Protect and conserve areas with healthy populations of antelope-brush
-Avoid herbicide and insecticide use

Resources

Nuttall's Sheepmoth photo taken by James Bailey, found on inaturalist.org