Buck Moth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Buck Moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Superfamily: Bombycoidea Family: Saturniidae Subfamily: Saturniinae Genus: Hemileuca Species: H. maia
Binomial name
Hemileuca maia Drury, 1773

The Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia^[1]) is a rare pine barrens insect that always has portion of its population remaining underground in the pupal stage. If adults, caterpillars and eggs are destroyed by fire, the Buck Moth population is re-established by the underground colony. It has a wider range, however, being quite common in Louisiana. Its larvae bear large spines that can cause a painful irritation upon contact.

[edit] Cited references

1. ^ Card for maia in LepIndex. Accessed 22 September 2007.

[edit] External links

• Beccaloni, G. W., Scoble, M. J., Robinson, G. S. & Pitkin, B. (Editors). 2003. The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex). World Wide Web electronic publication. [1] (accessed 22 September 2007).

• forestpests.org page on Buck moth