Other Common Names
Pink-striped Oakworm (larva)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
As BugGuide follows the classification at
All-Leps (
see discussion here) we recognize 3 subspecies of the Pink-striped Oakworm. For our purposes these are best defined by distribution as stated by Ferguson
(1) (TT).
Anisota pellucida. See discussion
here.
Size
wingspan 33-45 mm
(2); female larger than male; the female shown at CBIF has a wingspan of 52 mm
Identification
Adult males have pronounced hyaline (translucent) area on forewing, no black spotting. Females have no black spotting on wings, and purplish margin of wings, obvious on forewing in living specimens.
Caterpillar pink-striped, similar to stigma group, but easily identified.
Range
Eastern North America, except southern Florida. BugGuide has images by Brian Womble
HERE that extends the range to at least Naples in southern Florida (TT). And this map
HERE has it down to the northern Keys area of Florida (TT).
(Following comments by TT)
3 subspecies:
virginiensis virginiensis - Northern Pink-striped Oakworm - as far south as North Carolina, except that on the coastal plain from Cape Hatteras (NC) south the southern ssp. occurs
virginiensis pellucida - Southern Pink-striped Oakworm - SE states from the coastal plain of NC at about Cape Hatteras to all of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana
virginiensis discolor - Texas Pink-striped Oakworm - Texas
From the distribution map
HERE one can imagine the borders between the 3 subspecies.
Also see Remarks section below.
Season
One flight in north (early June into July). Two flights in mid-range: late July-early September. Three flights possible in south. Apparently the only
Anisota species with a spring flight.
(3)Life Cycle
Some pupae overwinter until spring.
Remarks
The key to the subspecies (from
(1)):
- Northeastern region south to North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . virginiensis virginiensis
- South Carolina to Florida, west to Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . virginiensis pellucida
(but see comment regarding coastal plain of NC under Range)
- Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .virginiensis discolor
See Also
The caterpillar of Anisota stigma is similar, but colors are different
Internet References
Anisota virginiensis at Moths of North America website.
pinned adult images of male [top] and female (CBIF)
