rosy maple moth

(Dryocampa rubicunda)

rosy maple moth
Photo by Stephanie Selb
  Hodges #

7715

 
 
Conservation Status
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Rosy maple moth is a common, small, silkworm moth. It occurs in the united States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains. Caterpillars are found feeding on the leaves of hardwood trees, especially red maple, silver maple, and sugar maple, but also boxelder and oak. Adults do not feed.

The adult is 1 (26 mm) in length and has a wingspan of 1¼ to 2316 (32 to 55 mm). It is a medium-sized moth but one of the smallest royal silkworm moths.

On males, the antennae are feather-like, with branches on both sides of the central axis (bipectinate). On females, the antennae are thread-like, unbranched.

The color is highly variable. The thorax is densely covered with long hairs that may be bright yellow, pale yellow, cream-colored, or white. The wings are rosy pink except for a broad median area which can also be bright yellow, pale yellow, cream-colored, or white. Sometimes the subterminal area is the same color as the median area. The legs are always rosy pink. A completely white form, called alba, occurs in Missouri.

The mature larvae, called green-striped mapleworm, is pale bluish-green or whitish-green with seven narrow, dark green stripes. On the second segment of the thorax (T2) there are two long black horns. On the abdomen there is a row of short black spines in the dorsal, subdorsal, and subspiracular areas. The subspiracular spines are the longest. There is often a rosy patch below the breathing pores (spiracles) on the seventh and eighth abdominal segments (A7 and A8). The head is beige to orangish-brown.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: 1 (26 mm)

Wingspan: 1¼ to 2316 (32 to 55 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Deciduous forests, woodlands, and bottomlands

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

One generation per year: May to August.

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

Adults are active at night and will come to lights.

Young caterpillars, in the first three stages (instars), feed in groups. Older caterpillars feed alone.

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

The female lays groups of 10 to 30 eggs on leaves of a host tree.

Pupa overwinter in a shallow chamber in the ground.

 
     
 

Larva Food

 
 

Leaves of mostly maple trees, especially red maple, silver maple, and sugar maple, but also boxelder and oak.

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Adults do not feed

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

21, 24, 29, 30, 71, 75.

 
  6/19/2021      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Bombycoidea (hawk, sphinx, silk, emperor, and allied moths)  
 

Family

Saturniidae (emperor and giant silk moths)  
 

Subfamily

Ceratocampinae (royal moths)  
 

Genus

Dryocampa  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

Adult: rosy maple moth

Larvae: green-striped mapleworm

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Instar

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

 

Spiracle

A small opening on the surface of an insect through which the insect breathes.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Stephanie Selb

 
 

count: 3

 
    rosy maple moth      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)
Andree Reno Sanborn
  Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)  
 
About

larva: bugguide.net/node/view/466/bgimage

 
     

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  LIVING COTTON CANDY !!! rosy maple moth (Dryocampa Rubicunda)
The Mothologist
 
   
 
About

Sep 5, 2019

 
  Cutest Moth: Pink Fluffy Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)
Bart Coppens
 
   
 
About

Aug 10, 2018

Rosy Maple moth: the fluffiest and cutest moth ever

 
  Rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)
Harvestmite
 
   
 
About

Jun 7, 2021

Dryocampa rubicunda is perhaps one of the most famous moths because of it colour and perhaps being The most adorable moths.

these moths are found on the East Coast of Canada in the north east coast of the United States

In early June they are absolutely everywhere and today I have found well over 30 of them on my house

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
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  Stephanie Selb
5/31/2021

Location: Andover, Anoka County, MN

count: 3

rosy maple moth

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 6/19/2021

Last Updated:

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