The Buck Moth Hiding in plain sight

 

Hemileuca peigleri ova rings on Quercus minima A little background about this moth. Mr. Brush Freeman, a professional field biologist and his friend Petra Hockey posted an innocuous little note to the Leps List ListServ in December of 2003 - announcing that there were Buck Moths flying in Port O'Connor, Texas.

In December of 2004 - he posted again - "In Port O'Connor recently we have had fair numbers of Buckmoths. They are usually seen in flight and I have been unable to capture them as they are usually to high flying from one private property to the next. Oddly while we were studying the loons on the silky waters off the bay front here, we saw one flying from off the bay from the direction of Port Alto or Palacious. The only buckmoths that I have really been able to ID with confidence so far have been Peigler's. Surely these are not all of that species or not? Which other species might be expected on the coastal shorelines at this season? These moths will continue to fly even though the temps drop below the upper 50's if that is any help. The flight is direct and distinct as well." This piqued our interest so in December of 2005 we went down and thus began a 10 year (so far) study of this amazing area and the incredible moth that lives there.

There are 2 populations - the well known one in the type locality ( San Antonio) and our population on the coast. They are separated by a pretty great distance -- way too far for any of these moths to fly ( they only live 3 - 5 days as an adult). Questions -- Questions -- Questions 1 - So how did the population become so fragmented? 2 - Which population came first? 3 - How far are they in the process of diverging in a significant way genetically? 4 - Why are they so different in Flight Period, Host plant and emergence timing? 5 - How have they adapted to the local conditions that are different from the Edwards Plateau? 6 - What event(s) caused the population to fragment? 7 - Why is the population on the coast so much more prevalent and stable? 8 - Has the recent massive rainfalls affected the subterranean pupae of H. peigleri - as they wait to emerge in December?

Your dollars will help to answer these questions!!!! We will be sure that each backer who wishes, will receive a copy of the published materials that they helped to fund!!! Sincerely,

Bob