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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Saturniidae
890067X – 7754   Agapema galbina (Clemens, 1860)
             Greasewood Moth
Distribution Data for Agapema galbina
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Distribution: Cameron Co. and Hidalgo Co., TX - Peigler & Kendall (1993).
Larva and
Host Plants:
Host familiy: Rhamnaceae.  Host genera: Condalia.  (Shropshire & Tallamy 2025 [accessed 6xii2025])
Description/
Field Marks:
Male: "Antennae luteous. Forewings yellowish brown. The marginal portion of the wing is whitish, and is tinged on the terminal edge with pale yellowish brown..." (Clemens 1860).See description and illustrations of solitain Ferguson (1972).
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • galbina (Clemens, 1860) (Saturnia) EXTIRPATED - MONA 1983: 7754; TL: Brownsville, Cameron County, TX.
  • solita Ferguson, 1972 (Agapema) - MONA 1983: [7755]; TL: Esperanza Ranch, Brownsville, TX.
    Note: n. syn. (Peigler & Kendall 1993).
  • Taxonomic Notes: Agapema galbina (Clemens, 1860): Ferguson (1972) believed that the type locality of galbina could not the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), as was historically held, because the collector John Pope had not been there. He consequently applied this name to the population of western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona south into Mexico, and believing that the LRGV population undescribed, he applied to it the name Agapema solita. Based on new evidence found by Peigler & Kendall (1993), the authors determined that Pope had collected his specimens from the LRGV and that solita referred to the same species.

    "... [galbina] has not been seen in NA since the 1960s and is presumed extirpated (it still occurs in Mexico)." (St Laurent in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) 2023)
    References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
    • Clemens, B., 1860. Contributions to American lepidopterology. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 12: 156.
    • Ferguson, D.C., 1972. Bombycoidea Saturniidae (Part). The Moths of America north of Mexico, Fascicle 20.2B: 193; pl. 13, figs. I 1, 12, 16. text figs. 24 c, d. (A. solita) (PDF (no fee) or order book)
    • Peigler, R.S. & R.O. Kendall, 1993. A review of the genus Agapema (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Proceedings of the Denver Museum of Natural History, 3(3): 1-22.
    • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 37.5m; p. 239. Book Review and ordering
    • Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
    • Species Page at iNaturalist
    Photographs are needed for this species.

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