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September 27, 2022  |  By Ben Ivers

Definite Tussock Moth

Definite Tussock Moth Live

IUCN Conservation Status: Insufficient Data

Alpheus Spring Packard identified 500 new animal species

I took this photo while out for a hike with Matt in New Hampshire. The day before we had been diving in Maine, and we had spent the night camping. Surprisingly, this was the only photo that I took that day, and the only photo that I took of the caterpillar. This was an insect that was hard to miss. With its bright yellow coloration, wild hairs, and fast movement; I knew that I wanted to remember this weird insect. Let’s find out more about this member of the moth family Erebidae.

Tent Caterpillar

The scientific name for the definite tussock moth is Orgyia definita. It is also known as the definite-marked tussock moth. The first person to ever describe this moth was Alpheus Spring Packard. He was an American entomologist and paleontologist that described over 500 new animal species. He especially enjoyed describing new moths and butterflies. He was a professor of zoology and geology at Brown University.

About definite tussock moths

The definite tussock moth is quite a sight to see as a caterpillar, but it is quite blasé as an adult moth. As a caterpillar, they have a bright yellow color that permeates their body. The hair on their body is white and sticks straight out from it. They also have verrucae, which are the wart-like structures that you see along the body. These are typically pale yellow. As an adult, the females are wingless. Both the males and the females are dark grayish-brown with distinct lines zig-zagging along the horizontal width of their wings. They grow to have a wingspan of around 30mm, or 1.18 inches. The larvae of tussock moths feed on apple, ash, birches, cherry, boxelder, elm, maple, basswood, oaks, and willows.

Greenstriped Mapleworm

The definite tussock moth belongs to the Erebidae family of moths which is known to be quite expansive. It is among the largest families of moths by species count. The smallest species in this family are only a quarter of an inch, while the largest (the black witch moth) can grow to be larger than five inches! Other interesting species include the harnessed tiger moths in the Arctiinae subfamily with are red, yellow, and black; the semirelict underwing in the Catocala genus; and the snout moths of the Hypeninae subfamily, which includes the species Mecistoptera griseifusa that lives solely on tears.

The larvae feed on apple trees

Did you know?

  • The hairs of tussock moth caterpillars are known to cause skin irritation.
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Article by Ben Ivers

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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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