Demonstration of a Sex Attractant in the Buck Moth, Hemileuca maia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

The buck moth, Hemileuca maia (Drury), lays its eggs in symmetrical, collar-shaped clusters around small twigs in the late fall. The eggs hatch in the following spring with the onset of warm weather. The caterpillars, which feed primarily on oak, cause only minor damage to trees in Louisiana. However, the late-instar larvae can be a decided nuisance around the home because of their venomous setae. Their presence greatly diminishes the joy of walking barefoot in the springtime.