Other Common Names
Golden Guide to Butterflies and Moths calls this the Hickory Tiger Moth.
Identification
Adult: forewing yellow with brown shading and bands of translucent white spots representing usual lines; hindwing very pale, translucent yellow, unmarked
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Larva: white with black markings and long hairs; first 8 abdominal segments with short black dorsal tufts and conspicuous subdorsal black lashes on first and seventh abdominal segments
[adapted from description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles]
Range
Interesting US range runs from the southwestern US to the northeastern US. In Canada, this species is found only in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario. Several in New Brunswick in 2006 (Tony Thomas)
Habitat
deciduous woods; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Season
adults fly in May and June
larvae present July to September
Food
larvae feed on leaves of ash, oak, hickory, maple, elm, and other trees.
(1)See Also
Spotted Tussock Moth (
Lophocampa maculata) has spots that usually merge into blotchy lines, and has terminal line of spots that merge with outer margin of forewing
on the west coast where
L. caryae doesn't occur,
Silver-spotted Tiger Moth (
L. argentata) is similar but has darker brown forewing with more silvery spots, and
Lophocampa roseata has sharp-angled rectangular or chevron-shaped spots on forewing (
see images of all 3 species at CBIF)
Print References
Covell, pp. 72-73 and plate 12, #7
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Internet References
Moth Photographers Group live and pinned adult images, and live larva image
Moths of North America pinned adult image by Paul Opler, plus US distribution map (USGS)
CBIF Photo of pinned adult
live larva image plus description, foodplants, seasonality, life cycle (David Wagner and Valerie Giles, Caterpillars of Eastern Forests, USGS)
distribution in Canada NS, QC, ON only (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
