Hemileucinae

Tribes of Hemileucinae in Indiana

Subfamily Hemileucinae — Buck and Io Moths

Walker, 1855

Etymology

Hemileucinae: Combines the Greek hemi for “one-half” and leuc for “white” to mean “half-white.”

The suffix inae is standard taxonomic nomenclature to indicate that word pertains to a zoological subfamily.

Pronunciation

hem-ee-loo-kye-nee

Overview

Hemileucinae is a New World subfamily of moths in the famiy Saturniidae.

Taxonomic Level	Worldwide	North America	Midwestern USA	Indiana
Distribution of Subfamily Hemileucinae
Tribes	2^a	1	1	1
Genera	56	22	2	2
Species	~1571-1751^b	~300-345	3	3

^a In addition to Hemileucini, the other tribe in the subfamily Hemileucinae is the South American Polythysanini.
^b All but approximately 12 of the world’s species of Hemileucinae are in the tribe Hemileucini. Polythysanini contains 3-4 species. The remaining 8-9 are currently unassigned.

Type Genus

Hemileuca

Hemileucinae in Indiana

The map, graph, and data below represent the Indiana sightings of the subfamily Hemileucinae. 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 16 October 2024.

Occurrences by County

Counties recorded: 68 of 92

Top counties/#of records:
Brown: 134
Washington: 127
Monroe: 100
Scott: 62
Hamilton: 50
Owen: 46
Jefferson: 42

species present icon GAIN LP documented in county

Photo Credits

Automeris image is courtesy of Tim Bailey.