Page 560 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Erebidae
DISTRIBUTION North America, from southern and southeastern Canada
to Florida, and west to Texas
HABITAT Woodlands and forests
HOST PLANTS Many woody shrubs and trees, including alder (Alnus spp.),
ash (Fraxinus spp.), birch (Betula spp.), elm (Ulmus spp.),
oak (Quercus spp.), and willow (Salix spp.)
NOTE Conspicuous, hirsute caterpillar
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but usually common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1 ⁄ –1¾ in (40–45 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH

1⅜ in (35 mm)
HALYSIDOTA TESSELLARIS
BANDED TUSSOCK MOTH
558
(J. E. SMITH, 1797)

Banded Tussock Moth caterpillars hatch from eggs laid in
masses on the underside of host plant leaves. There are two
generations each summer, and although not gregarious the
larvae are conspicuous, preferring to rest openly on the upper
side of leaves. This suggests they are not palatable to predators,
either because of their tufted bodies or the chemical defenses
they have acquired from host plants. Pupation occurs in a
gray, silken cocoon laced with many of the caterpillar’s hairs.
The pupae overwinter.

As with many moth species, the caterpillars of the Banded
The Banded Tussock Moth caterpillar is variably Tussock Moth are more attractive than the adults. However,
yellow brown to gray black, with conspicuous handling is not recommended as the profuse setae of the larvae
black tufts and white tufts extending from the
anterior and posterior ends of the body. Dark can cause irritation to some people. The adult moths fly by
setae usually form a middorsal line along the
body. The head is black. night and are frequently attracted to lights. This species often
co-occurs with the similar Sycamore Tussock Moth (Halysidota
harrisii) and Florida Tussock Moth (Halysidota cinctipes).

Actual size