Species Symmerista leucitys - Orange-humped Mapleworm - Hodges#7953

Classification · Hodges Number · Identification · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References

A beautiful OHM Cat - Symmerista leucitys

early instar orange-humped mapleworm - Symmerista leucitys

Symmerista leucitys - Orange-humped Mapleworm - Hodges#7953 - Symmerista leucitys - male

Orange-humped Mapleworm - Hodges#7953 - Symmerista leucitys

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)

Family Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)

Subfamily Nystaleinae

Genus Symmerista

Species leucitys (Orange-humped Mapleworm - Hodges#7953)

Hodges Number

7953

Identification

comparison of albifrons, canicosta and leucitys - 8th sternite

comparison of genitalia dissection - in albifrons, apex of the large bilobed process greatly exceeds the apex of the small simple process whereas in leucitys the two apexes are subequal

Habitat

Hardwood forests.

Food

It is recorded from a variety of deciduous tree hosts. It seems to prefer sugar maple and beech throughout most of its range.

Remarks

The larva shown here, and the larvae here are offspring of the adult pictured here, identified as S. leucitys via genitalia examination by Les Ferge of Wisconsin. BugGuide currently lacks information on how photos of leucitys larvae and/or adults might be distinguishable from other species of Symmerista. Any help would be greatly appreciated.(R Mc)

A native species. It seldom causes severe defoliaton but some years there are outbreaks of this species combined with several other species of moths and sawflies. These outbreaks die out after two or three years without causing permanent damage to the forest.

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

Barcode of Life (BOLD)

Maine Forest Service

BAMONA

Forestry Images

Contributed by A.W. Thomas on 10 November, 2005 - 7:26pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, JohnMaxwell22, JoAnneRusso, Steve Morris
Last updated 26 March, 2022 - 1:33pm

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