Species of the Week

Electra Buckmoth (Hemileuca electra) 🦋🏜

The Electra Buckmoth is a striking species recognized for its vivid orange coloration and bold desert presence. This desert moth can be found throughout the Mojave and Sonoran regions, from Utah and Nevada down through Arizona, California, and Baja California. Across this wide range, several notable variations exist, with 5 to 6 subspecies identified. Adult buckmoths don’t feed, dedicating their short adult lifespan to reproduction. However, their caterpillars rely on our native buckwheat species as their host plant, making this moth an important component of desert and chaparral ecosystems.