Photo Of The Month

November 2024

This is a featured photo of the month. I will try and update this monthly with a favorite photo.

  • Common Name: Pandora Moth
  • Scientific Name: Coloradia pandora
  • Date Taken: July 29, 2011
  • Location: Mono Lake, California
  • Photographer: Howard Cunningham

  • The Pandora moth is known for its large size and striking appearance.
    It follows a two-year life cycle; in year one the eggs hatch in the
    summer, and the caterpillars feed on the needles of pine trees. In
    year two the caterpillars drop to the ground and burrow into the soil
    to pupate, where they remain for up to a year before emerging as
    adults. Adults emerge during the summer; they only live for about a
    week and do not feed. Pandora moths occur in dry, coniferous forests
    in western North America, particularly in the Rocky Mountains, Pacific
    Northwest, and the Sierra Nevada. They prefer pine species such as
    Ponderosa pine and Jeffrey pine. Every 20 to 30 years the larvae can
    cause severe outbreaks of defoliation, weakening forests and leaving
    trees vulnerable to diseases and other pests. The larvae are harvested
    by Native American tribes such as the Paiute and Washoe people, who
    prepare and store them them as a seasonal delicacy. This has brought
    the native people into conflict with the United States Forest Service,
    which has sought to control moth populations through the use of
    insecticides.