Genus Hemileuca

Walker, 1855

Etymology

Hemileuca: Combines the Greek hemi for “half” with leuc for “white” — a reference to the wing patterning.

Pronunciation

hem-ee-loo-kuh

Overview

Hemileuca is a New World genus of moths in the family Saturniidae. Entomologists generally separate Indiana’s Hemileuca populations into two divisions: Eastern Buckmoth (Hemileuca maia) and the “Great Lakes Complex.” The former is a larval oak specialist found in oak barrens in the southern one-third of the state. The latter is a willow and cottonwood specialist found primarily in wetlands in the northern one-third of Indiana. Currently, most entomologists recognize the Great Lakes Complex as the Nevada Buck Moth (Hemileuca nevadaensis). However, NatureServe cautions that “species concepts in this group are unstable,” and “it is likely additional taxa will be combined with and/or split off from this species (NatureServe 2021)”.

Physically, members of the Great Lakes Complex resemble Hemilueca maia. However, their habitat and dietary requirements are closer to H. nevadensis. Apparently, the breeding populations of the two species do not overlap, and further research concludes that pheromonal differences are extreme and that females of each species cannot attract males of the other (NatureServe[2] 2021). Although some researchers argue that the Great Lakes population is not conspecific with either Hemileuca maia or the southwestern H. nevadensis, without additional evidence, most authorities still place them within the latter species.

Distribution of Genus Hemileuca
Taxonomic Level	Worldwide	North America	Midwestern USA	Indiana
Species	~33	~33	2a	2

Type Species

Hemileuca maia, first described in 1773 by Dru Drury as Phalaena maia.

Hemileuca in Indiana

The map, graph, and data below represent the Indiana sightings of the genus Hemileuca. All sightings were confirmed through photographic evidence by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP). All data is current as of 18 May 2024.

Occurrences by County

Sightings by Species

Total Sightings by Year

• Total number of observations (all years combined): 13
• Number of field observers: 7

Additional Sources

NatureServe. 2021. Hemileuca nevadaensis. Explorer.natureserve.org. [accessed 2021 May 26]. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.119852/Hemileuca_nevadensis

NatureServe[2]. 2021. Hemileuca nevadaensis ssp3. Explorer.natureserve.org. [accessed 2021 May 29]. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.721455/Hemileuca_nevadensis_ssp_3

Photo Credits

Hemileuca maia courtesy Carol Thornton Anderson. Hemileuca nevadensis courtesy of Chris Joll.