Identification
wings pure white, usually with several scattered tiny black dots; inner surface of front leg femur with pink or reddish hairs; head and thorax white, hairy
Range
California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington [not yet recorded in Canada, as of February 2006]
Season
adults fly in May and June
Food
larvae feed on leaves of various flowering trees, particularly oak (Quercus spp.)
See Also
Fall Webworm Moth (
Hyphantria cunea),
Spilosoma congrua, and
S. virginica are similar but do not have pink or reddish hair on inner surface of foreleg femur (see
pinned adult images).
Pink-legged Tiger Moth (
S. latipennis) is similar, and has pink or reddish hair on inner surface of foreleg femur, but only occurs in the east (see
distribution map).
Satin Moth (
Leucoma salicis; Lymantriidae) has pale yellow on thorax, base of forewing, and along costa, and has black rings on its legs.
Internet References
live adult images by Richard Rogers (Moth Photographers Group)
pinned adult images plus description, food plants, flight season, distribution, similar species (Jeff Miller, Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands; USGS)
US distribution map (Moths of North America; USGS)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 5 February, 2006 - 9:41am
Last updated 10 June, 2006 - 12:16am
