Nevada Buck Moth – Hemileuca nevadensis

Emily found several dozen Hemileuca caterpillars on June 20, 2009, on some shrubby willows.  They were at Bush Lake Park, in Bloomington, Minnesota (Hennepin County).  The willows are probably Salix exigua – Sandbar Willows (thanks to John Pearson for the ID).

photo by Emily Tenczar
Hemileuca nevadensis
photo by Emily Tenczar
Hemileuca nevadensis
photo by Emily Tenczar

Emily fed them willow leaves, and they pupated in mid-July.

Hemileuca nevadensis pupa
photo by Marcie O'Connor

They began to emerge in mid-September.  This is a newly emerged female, on 9/14/09

Hemileuca nevadensis
photo by Marcie O'Connor

A series of the same female, showing her pumping up her wings.

Hemileuca nevadensis
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis
photo by Marcie O'Connor

When they first emerge, they spend a lot of time finding the perfect  place to pump up their wings.  Here’s some video of a newly emerged male, climbing around, trying to find a spot.

And here are some photos of a different male shortly after emerging.  September 17, 2009

Hemileuca nevadensis male
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis male
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis male
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis male
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis male
photo by Marcie O'Connor
Hemileuca nevadensis male
photo by Marcie O'Connor

We weren’t able to attract mates for any of the moths, so after a few days of trying, we released them into a few different wild areas with willows, in hopes that they would find mates there.

Hemileuca nevadensis female
photo by Marcie O'Connor

Marcie O’Connor and Emily Tenczar
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota