Cucullia montanae

The eggs are laid on the very sticky involucral bracts of the Gumweed Grindelia integrifolia, and it is a wonder how the tiny first instar caterpillars avoid getting stuck in the gum. Older caterpillars are easy to spot in the Gumweed flowers. Pupation is underground in a tough cocoon. Moths in this genus are known as "sharks". The adult has a characteristic hood (Latin cucullus, a hood) over its head, being a tuft of hairs attached to the thorax. A minor planet (asteroid) has been named Cucullia after a related species, Cucullia asteroides, the Asteroid Moth, whose caterpillar feeds on plants of the family Asteraceae.