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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths (Lasiocampoidea) » Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths (Lasiocampidae) » Lasiocampinae » Lasiocampini » Malacosoma » Western Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7702 (Malacosoma californica)

Species Malacosoma californica - Western Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7702

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Malacosoma californicum fragile - Malacosoma californica

Orange and grey caterpillar - Malacosoma californica

Malacosoma constricta or californica? - Malacosoma californica

Malacosoma californicum - Malacosoma californica

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 Lasiocampoidea (Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths)

Family Lasiocampidae (Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths)

Subfamily Lasiocampinae

Tribe Lasiocampini

Genus Malacosoma

Species californica (Western Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7702)

Hodges Number

7702

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Malacosoma californica

Clisiocampa californica Packard, 1864

* phylogenetic sequence #224100

Explanation of Names

Malacosoma californicum (Packard, 1864)

Numbers

Six species in the genus found in North America north of Mexico and several subspecies have been described.(1)

Size

Forewing length 12-18 mm (Powell & Opler, 2009).(1)

Range

Southeastern Canada to New York and west to the Pacific Coast. More abundant in the West (Powell & Opler, 2009).(1)

Food

Choke cherry, Rosa, willow, wild plum, and Ribes(2)

Life Cycle

Egg mass on Red Alder (Alnus rubra) stem:

Eggs are laid in flattish, clasping masses on twigs and branches; they are covered with a light brown or grayish spumaline. The larvae construct tents similar to the eastern tent caterpillar.(2)

Remarks

The gender of Malacosoma is neuter, so adjectivic species names ending -a are considered wrong spellings. (3)

Print References

Franclemont, J. G. 1973. The Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 20.1. E.W. Classey Ltd. & R.B.D. Publications Inc.: p.78; pl.10.1-32. (4)

Miller, J. C. & P. C. Hammond 2003. Lepidoptera of the Pacific Northwest: caterpillars and adults. FHTET-03-11: 1-323. (5)

Packard, A. S. 1864. Synopsis of Bombycidae of the United States. Proc. Ent. Soc. Philadelphia 3: 386

Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press, p.235, Pl.37.9(1)

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group (6)

Pacific Northwest Moths (7)

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center - Caterpillars of Pacific Northwest Forests and Woodlands - larval image and description

USDA Forest Service publication

Jeremy B. Tatum's Butterflies & Moths of Southern Vancouver Island

Works Cited

1.	Moths of Western North America Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.

2.	Eastern Forest Insects Whiteford L. Baker. 1972. U.S. Department of Agriculture · Forest Service.

3.	A revision of the genus Malacosoma (Hubner) in North America (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae): systematics, ... Frederick W. Stehr; Edwin F.Cook . 1968. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 276: 1-321.

4.	The Moths of America North of Mexico. Fascicle 20.1. Mimallonoidea (Mimallonidae) and Bombycoidea..... J. G. Franclemont. 1973. E.W. Classey Ltd. & R.B.D. Publications Inc.

5.	Lepidoptera of the Pacific Northwest: Caterpillars and Adults Miller & Hammond. 2003. USDA.

6.	North American Moth Photographers Group

7.	Pacific Northwest Moths

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 May, 2004 - 8:13pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Steve Nanz, anitagould, Chuck Entz, Maury Heiman, Boris Bueche, Harsi S. Parker, Randy Hardy, Marci Hess
Last updated 11 August, 2023 - 9:49am

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