hickory tussock moth

(Lophocampa caryae)

hickory tussock moth
Photo by Babette Kis
  Hodges #

8211

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Hickory tussock moth is a common, medium-sized, boldly marked, tiger moth. It occurs in the United States from Maine to Maryland, west to Minnesota and Indiana, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to Tennessee. In Canada it occurs from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario. A disjunct population occurs in southern Mexico. It is uncommon in Minnesota. Caterpillars feed on the leaves of a wide variety of trees, including ash, birch, cherry, elm, hickory, maple, oak, walnut, and willow; shrubs, including blueberry, rose, and sumac; and vines including hops, raspberry, and Virginia creeper. They are found from July through September. Adults are found in deciduous woodlands in May and June.

Adults are ¾ to 1 (20 to 29 mm) in length and have a 1½ to 2¼ (37 to 55 mm) wingspan.

The forewings have a pale yellowish-brown or orangish-brown background heavily peppered with flecks of the same color but darker. The veins are dark. The basal, antemedial, median, postmedial, and subterminal lines are each represented by a row of semi-translucent, white or cream-colored spots with dark borders. An oblique dark line extends from the leading edge (costal margin) in the antemedial area to the rear margin near the inner (anal) angle. A dark, cone-shaped patch surrounds a large postmedial spot and tapers to a point at the rear margin.

The hindwings are pale translucent yellow with no markings.

The thorax is densely hairy. It is the same color as the pale base color of the wings. A pair of thick, brown, oblique stripes join at the rear margin forming a distinctive V shape.

The antennae are long and thread-like. On the male each segment has a long, comb-like extension on one side only (pectinate).

The caterpillar is white and up to 1¾ (4.5 cm) long. The first through eighth abdominal segments (A1 through A8) have a small tuft of short, black setae on the front half and a pair of black, narrowly oval spots on the rear half. Segments A1 and A7 each have a pair of very long, movable, black tufts (lashes). The sides of each segment have several black warts bearing tufts of long white setae.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: ¾ to 1(20 to 29 mm)

Wingspan: 1½ to 2¼ (37 to 55 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Deciduous woodlands

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

One generation per year: May and June

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

The female lays a large batch of 50 or more eggs on the underside of a leaf. Early stage (instar) caterpillar feed together in large clusters. They skeletonize leaves, consuming the tissue but leaving the veins. Pupae overwinter in a cocoon in leaf litter.

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

Leaves of woody plants, including ash, birch, cherry, elm, hickory, maple, oak, walnut, willow, blueberry, rose, sumac, hops, raspberry, and Virginia creeper

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 

Defense Mechanisms

 
 

Caterpillars accumulate toxic chemicals from their host plants, making them poisonous or unpalatable to predators. The hairs are microscopically barbed. They break off easily and embed themselves in predators or in the skin of humans who don’t know that they should avoid touching hairy caterpillars. Both black and white setae contain irritating chemicals. Exposure can cause a rash similar to poison ivy.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 21, 24, 29, 30, 75, 82, 83.

 
  4/19/2023      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon in Minnesota

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Noctuoidea (owlet moths and allies)  
 

Family

Erebidae (underwing, tiger, tussock, and allied moths)  
 

Subfamily

Arctiinae (tiger moths and allies)  
 

Tribe

Arctiini (tiger moths)  
  Subtribe Phaegopterina  
 

Genus

Lophocampa  
       
 

In 2011 the family Arctiidae (tiger moths and lichen moths) was transferred to the family Erebidae mostly intact but demoted to a subfamily. The former subfamilies are now tribes, the former tribes now subtribes.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

hickory tussock moth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Anal angle

The angle at the corner formed where the outer and inner margins meet.

 

Costal margin

The leading edge of the forewing of insects.

 

Instar

The developmental stage of arthropods between each molt; in insects, the developmental stage of the larvae or nymph.

 

Seta

A stiff, hair-like process on the outer surface of an organism. In Lepidoptera: A usually rigid bristle- or hair-like outgrowth used to sense touch. In mosses: The stalk supporting a spore-bearing capsule and supplying it with nutrients. Plural: setae. Adjective: setose.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Babette Kis

 
 

Lophocampa caryae (hickory tussock moth)

Best not to touch the hairs on these, they're irritating to the skin.

  hickory tussock moth  
           
 
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Hickory tussock moth
Andree Reno Sanborn
  Hickory tussock moth  
 
About

Lophocampa caryae

 

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  POISONOUS white hickory tussock moth caterpillar (lophocampa caryae)
Live Free
 
   
 
About

Aug 17, 2019

 
  Hickory Tussock Moth Larva - Lophocampa Caryae
Jean-Paul Sauve
 
   
 
About

Sep 25, 2014

Tussock Moth larva found in my back yard.
Video by http://dotcadot.ca
Music: Slow Shock by Silent Partner
Courtesy of Youtube Audio Library

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
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  Babette Kis
9/21/2020

Location: oak hickory woods near Barnes Prairie, Racine Co. WI on shagbark hickory

Best not to touch the hairs on these, they're irritating to the skin.

hickory tussock moth

 
           
 
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Created: 4/19/2023

Last Updated:

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