What is a white-marked tussock moth?
The Lepidopterists’ adage that “the homelier the caterpillar, the more spectacular the adult (and vice versa)” is certainly borne out by the White-marked Tussock Moth (WmTM). WmTM pere is a stocky, hairy, brownish moth with long feathery antennae. WmTM mere is stocky (egg-bound), hairy, brownish and wingless, with simple antennae.
Are tussock moth caterpillars poisonous?
Most people in forested areas have come in contact with these little tuffed (tussocks) hair caterpillars with short, bristly, toxic pincushion hairs on their backs. These stinging hairs cause a very irritating rash, especially on the inner arms, neck, and stomach areas. Also to know is, is the pale tussock moth caterpillar poisonous?
What does a hickory tussock moth turn into?
The larval stage (caterpillar stage) of the hickory tussock Moth starts out small and relatively inconspicuous on the leaves of host trees. As it feeds and grows, it evolves into a distinctly fuzzy white and black caterpillar with tufts of white hairs located along its body (Fig.
What do rusty tussock moths eat?
Rusty Tussock Moth. The Rusty Tussock Moth, also known as the Vapourer Moth, feeds on willow, apple, hawthorn, cedar, Douglas-fir, and a wide variety of other trees and shrubs. On coniferous trees, the caterpillars feed on new growth, including not only the needles but also the tender bark on twigs.
See more
Can tussock moths hurt you?
Judged on looks alone, these fuzzy caterpillars might appear harmless but touch one with a bare finger and you'll feel as if you've been pricked by fiberglass. Some species, such as the Brown-tail, will even leave you with a persistent and painful rash. Tussock Moth adults are often dull brown or white.
Are white moths poisonous?
It is found across most of the northern half of North America and likely arrived from Europe in the 1920s. Don't be misled by the ethereal appearance of the white satin moth – they can be lethal.
Does the White-marked tussock moth caterpillar sting?
The White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar becomes the White-marked Tussock Moth. The bristly hairs on the White-marked Tussock caterpillar sting when touched, causing pain, redness, irritation, and hives. Contact with these urticating hairs should be avoided.
Are tussock moth caterpillars poisonous to dogs?
Its hairs are extremely toxic to dogs as well as people. Some varieties of black and yellow caterpillars. Some varieties of black fuzzy caterpillars. Tussock Moth caterpillars – their hair can cause a reaction.
Are there any poisonous moths?
Giant silkworm moth larvae and flannel moth caterpillars are specifically noted for their ability to cause a painful sting. Most types of moths are only poisonous if they're consumed. This may be especially true if the moth or moth caterpillar has visible hairs or spines.
Is moth dust poisonous?
Small moths and moth dust are not entirely dangerous but the dust from these moths can cause irritation in the eyes or skin but will not cause blindness as it is not poisonous to eyes.
What happens if you touch a white caterpillar?
The white hickory tussock moth caterpillar has a white, fuzzy body with black spots. Those spots are filled with venom, used as a defense mechanism against predators. "Little black like almost little spines that stick up, and if you touch those they will cause a stinging reaction to your skin," Ivy said.
What caterpillar are poisonous?
The Saddleback caterpillar, buck moth caterpillars, puss caterpillars, and Io moth caterpillars are some of the most venomous caterpillars in the United States. The Io moth caterpillar has a red and white stripe that runs on the lateral sides of its body.
Should I get rid of tussock moth caterpillars?
The cocoons also are known to cause allergic reactions and they are very well attached, so some effort will be needed to remove them. It's good to get rid of the cocoons because you are also removing the eggs for the next generation of caterpillars.
Is hairy caterpillar poisonous?
Caterpillars covered with hair or bristles, with one exception, are rarely poisonous. The “fuzzy-wuzzy” caterpillar that predicts winter cold is not poisonous nor is the gypsy moth or your tent caterpillar.
What happens if a cat eats a caterpillar?
Some caterpillars will sting, causing pain to your cat. The stings from common caterpillars are rarely dangerous, but some large, exotic caterpillars can be toxic. The Garden Tiger Moth, pictured above, may be poisonous if ingested (as well as the caterpillar). However, little is known about the toxic effects on cats.
Are tussock moth caterpillars invasive?
While they're native to North America and not technically an invasive species, it can feel like they are given their sheer numbers.
What is the white marking on a Tussock Moth?
The White-marked Tussock Moth caterpillar is covered with them and the chemicals that are transferred onto skin when they are touched can cause an allergic reaction in humans resulting in redness, irritation, and welts . Pruritic dermatitis (itching) is commonly seen in small children who come into contact with it, or its cocoon, on the playground.
Where do moths live?
Adult moths, however, do have remarkable feathery antennae and tufts of hair on their legs. They are on the wing year-round in warmer regions. Adults and larvae can be found in forested areas. Both deciduous and evergreen trees are host plants.
What does a spiky caterpillar look like?
After growing, the spiky caterpillar weaves a white cocoon around itself that resembles a white ball of laundry lint with some long black hairs woven throughout it. Irritation is possible if touched. After pupating for a couple of weeks, the adult emerges. General Characteristics.
What is a white-marked tussock moth?
Orgyia oslari Barnes, 1900. Orgyia libera Strecker, 1900. Orgyia leucostigma, the white-marked tussock moth, is a moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797. The caterpillar is very common especially in late summer in eastern North America, extending as far west as Texas, California, and Alberta.
What is the name of the fungus that infects gypsy moths?
The fungus Entomophaga maimaiga was introduced to North America to control the gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar ). The fungus also infects O. leucostigma and could possibly have an impact in years when E. maimaiga is abundant. Large larvae are mostly attacked by birds, and small larvae mostly disappear during dispersal.
What is the color of Orgyia leucostigma?
Orgyia leucostigma larva on ixora. The larvae are brightly colored, with tufts of hair-like setae. The head is bright red and the body has yellow or white stripes, with a black stripe along the middle of the back. Bright red defensive glands are seen on the hind end of the back.
What are white-marked tussock moths?
White-marked tussock moths (Orgyia leucostigma) are grayish in color and their larvae are about 1.5 inch long, conspicuous in color with red heads, three- yellow or cream colored tufts of hairs and blackish to yellowish stripes on the dorsal side. Sub-dorsal sides of larvae are grayish in color (Photo 1).
Hosts
Although white-marked tussock moth larvae can feed on over 100 plant species, they are considered as one of the important pests of many economically important fruit and nut crops including walnuts, apple, cherries and blueberries.
Damage
Although tussock moths are considered minor pests, their outbreaks can be devastating. After hatching from eggs, young larvae start feeding by scraping the leaf tissue between the veins giving a window appearance. As the larvae become mature, they can feed voraciously and completely skeletonize the entire leaf.
What are natural enemies of tussock moths?
Larvae of tussock moths have many natural enemies including pathogens, and parasitic and predatory insects.
Control of tussock moths with organic pesticides
A plant based organic pesticide called Molt-X® – containing Azadirachtin, a compound isolated from neem leaves and can be sprayed to control larvae of tussock moths and other insect pests. Molt- X is an OMRI listed emulsifiable concentrate formulation, which works as an insect growth regulator that disrupts the molting process in insects.
What is the optimum rate of Molt-X to control Tussock moth?
The optimum concentration of Molt-X® in spay solution for the effective control of different pests is 8-10 ounces per 100 gallons of water.
What is a tussock moth?
Tussock moths in the genus Orgyia are small moths that are best-known because of their attractive larvae. Figure 1. Fir tussock moth ( Orgyia detrita) caterpillar (dorsal view). Photograph by Donald W. Hall, University of Florida.
What are tussock moths' enemies?
Predators: Tussock moth larvae have various natural enemies. Medina and Barbosa (2002) looked at predation of small and large Orgyia leucostigma larvae in a temperate forest and suggested that birds were the major predators of large larvae but most mortality of smaller larvae was probably due to failure to find a suitable host during ballooning dispersal and also possibly to predation by invertebrate predators in the leaf litter. Large ground beetles (Henn et al. 2009) and Polistes paper wasps (Castellanos et al. 2011) have also been reported to attack the larvae up in the trees.
What color is Orgyia detrita?
Orgyia detrita has two common color forms in Florida, a dark form and a light form. The sub-dorsal areas (sides) can be a dark gray as in Figures 1 and 2, or they can be light gray to light yellow as in Figure 3. The sides of Orgyia leucostigma are light in color, similar to the light form of detrita.
What do fir tussock moth larvae eat?
Hall, University of Florida. By the second instar, the larvae are already recognizable because of their short hair pencils. Young larvae eat holes in leaves.
What is the most common moth in Florida?
Orgyia detrita (the fir tussock moth) is the most common of the species in Florida followed by Orgyia leucostigma (the whitemarked tussock moth) and finally Orgyia definita (the definite tussock moth), which is rare in Florida (Foltz 2004). Much of the older literature places the tussock moths in the family Liparidae and more recently in ...
Why is it so hard to control caterpillars in Florida?
Control of the caterpillars is difficult because by the time they are migrating from the trees, it is too late. In Florida, feeding damage to large trees by Orgyia species does not usually harm the trees. However, they may occasionally be sufficiently numerous to completely defoliate large trees. Also, large numbers of larvae blown onto small landscape trees may result in severe defoliation.
What are the black pencils on the prothorax?
They are characterized by hair pencils of black setae that extend forward from the prespiracular verrucae of the prothorax, a dorsal hair pencil of black setae on the eighth abdominal segment, dorsal tussocks on the first four abdominal segments, and mid-dorsal glandular structures on abdominal segments six and seven.
What is a Tussock Moth?
Tussock Moth caterpillars (from the family Lymantriidae) are voracious eaters capable of defoliating entire forests. The best-known member of this family is the beautiful but highly detrimental Gypsy Moth which is not native to North America. After its introduction, the potential for destruction these critters could wreak became all too clear.
Where do white marked tussock moths live?
The White-Marked Tussock Moth is a common native of North America and is found throughout the eastern United States and Canada. These caterpillars feed on a range of host plants, including birch, cherry, apple, oak, and even some coniferous trees like fir and spruce, and may cause damage to trees when present in significant numbers.
What caterpillars are known for their tufts of hair?
In the United States, the Gypsy Moth alone costs millions of dollars to control each year. To insect lovers, however, Tussock Moth caterpillars are known for their striking tufts of hair, or tussocks.
What do pine tussock moths eat?
Predictably, Pine Tussock Moth caterpillars feed on pine foliage, along with other coniferous trees such as spruce. They prefer the tender needles of jack pine, and during years of high caterpillar populations, entire stands of these trees may be defoliated. The caterpillars emerge in the summer months.
How long do caterpillars molt?
Caterpillars feed primarily at night, but in a year of high Gypsy Moth populations, they may continue feeding through the day as well. After eight weeks of feeding and molting, the caterpillar pupates, usually on tree bark. Within one to two weeks, adults emerge and begin mating. The adult moths do not feed.
How long does it take for a white marked tulsock moth to hatch?
White-Marked Tussock Moths produce two generations each year. The first generation of caterpillars emerges from their eggs in springtime. They feed on foliage for four to six weeks before pupating. After two weeks, the adult moth emerges from the cocoon, ready to mate and lay eggs.
Why do Nun Moths chew needles?
That's a good thing because in its native range it has wreaked havoc on forests. Nun Moths like to chew the base of needles on coniferous trees, allowing the rest of the untouched needle to fall to the ground. This eating habit results in extensive needle loss when caterpillar populations are high.
Overview
Orgyia leucostigma, the white-marked tussock moth, is a moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797. The caterpillar is very common especially in late summer in eastern North America, extending as far west as Texas, California, and Alberta.
Etymology
The genus name Orgyia is from the ancient Greek word ὄργυια, órgyia - 'outstretched arms'. So named because, when at rest, the moth stretches forward its forelegs like arms.
Life cycle
Two or more generations occur per year in eastern North America. They overwinter in the egg stage.
Eggs are laid in a single mass over the cocoon of the female, and covered in a froth. Up to 300 eggs are laid at a time.
The larvae are brightly colored, with tufts of hair-like setae. The head is bright re…
Host plants
The caterpillars may be found feeding on an extremely wide variety of trees, both deciduous and coniferous, including apple, birch, black locust, cherry, elm, fir, hackberry, hemlock, hickory, larch, oak, rose, spruce, chestnut, and willow. Defoliating outbreaks are occasionally reported especially on Manitoba maple and elm in urban areas. Outbreaks are usually ended by viral disease.
Ecology
The fungus Entomophaga maimaiga was introduced to North America to control the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar). The fungus also infects O. leucostigma and could possibly have an impact in years when E. maimaiga is abundant. Large larvae are mostly attacked by birds, and small larvae mostly disappear during dispersal.
Subspecies
• O. l. leucostigma (South Carolina, from Georgia and Florida to Texas)
• O. l. intermedia Fitch, 1856 (from Maine and Ontario to Virginia, Alberta and Kansas)
• O. l. plagiata (Walker, 1855) (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec)
External links
• "Species Orgyia leucostigma - White-marked Tussock Moth - Hodges#8316". BugGuide. Retrieved May 16, 2020. With images.