Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands
Coloradia pandora [Saturniidae]
Wingspan 8.1 cm. Forewing is black-brown with gray scales, basal and postmedian lines are black and jagged to dentate, reniform spot is small, black, and round; hindwing is pink with a round, black reniform spot and black postmedian line and submarginal border. This saturniid is known as the Pandora moth and is widely distributed in western North America, particularly abundant in ponderosa pine forests. Moths fly in midsummer. Caterpillars feed on the foliage of species of Pinaceae, especially pine (Pinus), and are often forest pests.
Similar species: Coloradia doris is smaller, reniform spots very small and narrow, widely distributed in the Rocky Mountains, the caterpillars feed on the foliage of pine (Pinus); Coloradia luski forewing with an elongate jagged basal line that touches the reniform spot, occurs in the southern Rocky Mountains.
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