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Category Archives: Tussock Moth Caterpillars   rss

What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Spotted Tussock Moth

Tussock moth?
I found this warming in the sun near Sebastopol (north of San Francisco). Some kind of tussock moth? Lovely site!
Joan

Hi Joan,
More specifically, this is a Spotted Tussock Moth, Lophocampa maculata.

Posted 12 November 2005 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Two Tussock Moth Caterpillars

Tussock Moth Caterpillars?
While in Maine this August, I snapped some nice photos of what I think are various kinds of tussock moth caterpillars; am I right? Oh, and your site is basically Nirvana.
Johanne

Definite-marked Tussock Moth Banded Tussock Moth


Hi Again Johanne,
Sorry for the delay, but our internet access was down for a week and mail really piled up. We agree that two of you caterpillars are known as Tussock Moths. The third is possibly, but we are unable to be more conclusive due to the camera angle. The two that are Tussock Moths are from different genuses, however. We believe one to be the Definite-marked Tussock Moth, Orgyia definita. Family Lymantriidae. This Family is known as the Tussock Moth Family. The other is probably the Banded Tussock Moth also known as the Pale Tussock Moth, Halysidota tessellaris, which is in the Family Arctiidae, the Tiger Moths.

Posted 26 October 2005 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Western Tussock Moth Caterpillars

Pacific Tussock Moth
I’m just one of those people who work at the Exploratorium who loves your site, so I thought you might like to see an invader that concerned me earlier this year. The caterpillar in question was eating all the ground cover over a large area on the side of the hill where I live on Mount San Bruno, just south of San Francisco. Here’s what it looked like on the human-scale: Note the brown eaten area. Not a leaf left! I consulted a local expert and he informed me that the culprit was the Pacific Tussock Moth, Hemerocampa vetusta, which I couldn’t find in your collection of caterpillars, so here you go – a small portion of the MILLIONS that were out there: And a close-up: Keep up the good work!
Ron

Hi Ron,
Thank you for the nice letter. As you stated, this is a new species for us. We always like to research new species. We did locate a caterpillar on BugGuide that looks identical to yours that is identified as the Western Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Orgyia vetusta. The genus formerly known as Hemerocampa is now recognized as Orgyia. Thank you for the images.

Posted 24 October 2005 § ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Pale Tussock Moth

Caterpillar
Hi,
I found this caterpillar crawling along the edge of my burning barrel. I have a caterpillar book, but I can’t find it in the book. Can you tell me what it is? I live in western Penna.
Nancy Murphy

Hi Nancy,
This looks like a Pale Tussock Moth, Halysidota tessellaris, also called the Banded Tussock Moth. It feeds on oaks, willows, poplars, hickories, and many other forest and shade trees

Posted 17 September 2005 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Caterpillar
Hi. I have been trying to identify this caterpillar but have not found a similar one. This one was on an apple tree. Thanks for your help and this is a wonderful site.
Dianne

Hi Dianne,
What a great photo of a Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Lophocampa maculata. It prefers willows and poplars, but will feed on many trees and shrubs.

Posted 07 September 2005 § ‡ Comments (1) °

Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

unknown caterpillar
We found this 2 inch long caterpillar on our front steps yesterday. It is mostly grey with faint tan stripes and russet/orange spots where the very long hair tufts emerge. Picture 2218 is very out of focus but shows how the long hairs look like the fringes of a rug. I believe the caterpillar may be getting ready to molt or pupate as it has started to spin long spiderweb-like strands arond it’s enclosure. It might have fallen from the nearby linden tree (which just finished flowering) or come from some of the plants under the tree which include rudbeckia, hosta, creeping phlox, liatris, pansies, lavendar and purple coneflowers. We live in Southeastern Wisconsin.

This looks like the pestiferous Gypsy Moth, Porthetria dispar, to us.

Posted 08 July 2005 § ‡ Comments (1) °

White Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar

caterpillar
identify this picture

Despite being annoyed at the terse demanding tone of this query, we are posting a relatively lengthy answer, however our personal reply was equally brief. This is a White Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar, originally Hemerocampa leucostigma and now identified as Orgyia leucostigma. It is a pest on most shade and ornamental trees. They can become so numerous that they defoliate trees. Though the caterpillar is quite beautiful, the moth is small and inconspicuous.

Posted 03 July 2005 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Pale Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Can you tell me if this caterpillar is a type of tussock moth? I’ve
looked at several caterpillars and can’t decide what it is exactly.
Ran across it in the woods near where we live that is primarly pine and
oak in Virginia. Saw one dangling and another was beginning to roll
itself up into a leaf. Hope you can help. This is a great website.
Marge Leitner

Hi Marge,
The Pale Tussock Moth or Banded Tussock Moth, Halysidota tessellaris, according to the Caterpillars of the Eastern Forest website, is: “Gray, dirty tan to yellow-brown with long paired white and black lashes on second and third thoracic segments. Food: oaks, willows, poplars, hickories, and many other forest and shade trees. Caterpillar: July to October”

Posted 08 September 2004 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Milkweed Moth Caterpillar

Can You Identify This Caterpillar?
Hi Bugman!
We have a butterfly garden, and I was just surprised to discover about 20 of these hairy orange, black and white caterpillars feeding on some plants out there. They’re small as caterpillars go — about 3/4″. I tried to find some like these on the internet, and I couldn’t, but in the course of trying I did find my way to your great website. Naturally, I’m curious to what these are (and I don’t plan to hurt or move them). Can you assist us in identifying them?
Thanks!
Cathy Whitt
Washington, DC

Of course we can Cathy,
You have Milkweed Moth Caterpillars, Euchaetias egle. The caterpillar is distinctive and unforgettable. This is a common insect, ranging from the Atlantic to the Mississippi and beyond. The caterpillars feed on plants in the milkweed family. The adult moth is creamy white-winged tiger moth with a yellow body. The body has black spots.

Posted 08 August 2004 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar

California Caterpillar
Can you help identify this little guy? I found him on a cement wall in Santa Cruz county California.
Thanks Victor Morris

Hi Victor,
Your photo looks remarkably like a Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata).
The Caterpillars of the Eastern Forest site describes this caterpillar as being: “Black at either end with 4 or 5 orange abdominal segments. Numerous thin white lashes arise from black segments—these distinguish it from woolly bear, which it superficially resembles. Orange abdominal band broken by red or black middorsal tufts. Food: prefers willows and poplars but will consume most any shrub or tree. Caterpillar: July to September; 1 generation.”

Posted 30 July 2004 § ‡ Comments (0) °

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