The sheep moth, or common sheep moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), is a member of the Saturniidae family of silk moths and is native to California west of the Sierran crest and the mountains of Southern California ranging near to the coast. The moth is dayflying and appears in summer. It feeds on plants of three genera: Ceanothus, Rhamnus (including coffeeberry), and Rosa. Nuttall's sheep moth and one other species are similar, occurring in sagebrush areas east of the Sierra Nevada.
The sheep moth has a 5.5-8.5 centimeter wingspan and a relatively slender body and (FW) wings that pink with a yellow streak in the middle and (HW) yellowish with variable black markings with an all-black form near Mount Shasta. The larva are black with branched yellowish spines that become orange in later development and an orange-brown head.
Famous quotes containing the words sheep and/or moth:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
—Bible: New Testament Matthew 10:16.
Jesus, sending forth the Apostles.
“... until the shopkeeper plants his boot in our eyes,
and unties our bone and is finished with the case,
and turns to the next customer, forgetting our face
or how we knelt at the yellow bulb with sighs
like moth wings for a short while in a small place.”
—Anne Sexton (19281974)